[Peace-discuss] AWARE

[John W.]

O wad some gift the Giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!

--Robert Burns, I believe


On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 12:34 PM, C. G. Estabrook <galliher at illinois.edu>wrote:

"...intervention by leadership"?  AWARE has leadership?  When & where has it
> "intervened"?
>
> Do I understand correctly that you're objecting to debate on a discussion
> list...?  Or saying just that "pontificators" have to shut up?
>
> (A pontificator -- I have to hurry to point it out before Wayne does -- is
> literally a bridge-builder, and that surely is something we need to do.)
>
> Yet you conclude, "May the conversation continue..."  OK.  --CGE
>
>
>
> jgeo61 at comcast.net wrote:
>


>  I would be happy to.  As I understand, the AWARE group was created to
>> tackle the issues of Peace and Justice and be an outlet for folks living in
>> the area
>> to feel they had a voice and to take action.  The goals of the AWARE group
>> are in theory decided upon by the membership via, ie: surveys, board
>> recommendations etc.  When I see only 3 - 4 people on the peace-discuss list
>> serve pontificating for weeks and months at a time and when the
>> conversations become so heated that there needs to be an intervention by
>> leadership, I
>> understand clearly that the "discussion" has ceased to exist and in fact
>> has
>> slipped to a typical "I'm right, your dead wrong" situation. We as
>> longtime
>> peace activists, know first hand how distructive this is to the work that
>> needs to be done.  It is an unecessary distraction.
>>
>> I am tired of the situation where we are contuously losing members due to
>> their frustration and unmet needs.
>>
>> In my mind, to have a meaningful discussion, not a debate, to explore the
>> "root causes" of war requires intensive listening on both sides. Which is
>> clearly, quite clearly, not in practice here.
>>
>> May the conversation continue.
>>
>> Joy George
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "C. G. Estabrook" <
>> galliher at illinois.edu>
>>  To: jgeo61 at comcast.net Cc: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net Sent:
>> Wednesday,
>>  September 2, 2009 9:23:29 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re:
>> [Peace-discuss] AWARE
>>
>> Would you be willing to be a bit more specific?
>>
>> What are "the goals and needs of the entire group" that are not reflected
>> on
>>  peace-discuss?  And what is "the entire group"? AWARE members?  All those
>> in
>>  favor of peace?
>>
>> If the list doesn't reflect such views, the solution would seem to be
>> inclusion, not exclusion, viz. "those who want to have the ongoing debate
>> discussions find their own regular venue..."
>>
>> The "work to be done" seems to me importantly to include understanding
>> what we're doing and why.  --CGE
>>
>>
>> jgeo61 at comcast.net wrote:
>>
>

>  This is quite an accusation.  You make it sound as if we are pouting,
>>> taking our toys home, since we didn't get our way on the playground.  My
>>> concern is that this discussion group does not reflect the goals or needs of
>>> the entire group and in fact the current behavior has driven away
>>> existing/potential members.
>>>
>>> If we want to "make a difference" in the peace effort, we must stick
>>> together to be a unified force, otherwise we appear only to be squabbling
>>> chickens.  I strongly believe that if those who want to have the ongoing
>>> debate discussions find their own regular venue and talk until the cows come
>>> home. There is work to be done and there is no time like the present to get
>>> back to it.
>>>
>>> Joy
>>
>>
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