The following is an update from Suzanne Taylor and
TheConversation.org Making Sense of These Times [http://www.theconversation.org] Website. Thank you for
your interest. If you wish to be removed from this list at any time, just let us
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April 7,
2002
Featured Conversation: Joe
Simonetta, Senior Editor of the World Business Academy and author of SEVEN
WORDS THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD: A New
Understanding of Sacredness
Suzanne's comments: The conversation ranges from puzzlement at Castro delivering insightful remarks about terrorism, to the need to address root causes to rid ourselves of all the human-made ills to which our civilization is prey. This conversation is the heart of our Website, and I think will make sense wherever you jump in -- although my hearty advocacy is that you go back to the beginning and read it all. There are not many places to chew on reality together, and these posts are carefully selected from what is contributed, to create an arena for advancing the action by making sense of these times.
Suzanne's comments: The conversation ranges from puzzlement at Castro delivering insightful remarks about terrorism, to the need to address root causes to rid ourselves of all the human-made ills to which our civilization is prey. This conversation is the heart of our Website, and I think will make sense wherever you jump in -- although my hearty advocacy is that you go back to the beginning and read it all. There are not many places to chew on reality together, and these posts are carefully selected from what is contributed, to create an arena for advancing the action by making sense of these times.
As of Monday, April 8, Joe will be in Southern California for at least two
weeks. For
information about his trip, visit: http://www.theconversation.org/joeinvite.html.
Please spread the word about
his appearances and his availability to
anyone who might want to attend his
talks or make contact with
him.
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Column from Geov Parrish: News From the Front: Welcome to Hell, Where the
Children Smile Amid the Gunfire -- April 5, 2002
Suzanne's
comment: Please read this -- for what the media isn't telling us
about what's going on in the Middle East. Geov has first hand connections who
are over there, in the thick of it, and I don't think anyone reading what they
say would fail to be outraged by what is being done. "What if, my health
conditions notwithstanding, I could expect to be rounded up, arrested, jailed,
and beaten every now and then, just for my age, gender, and race, just so I knew
who was boss? What if I couldn't get electricity, or water, or medical care, or
food, let alone a job or a future for my children? What if my whole city were in
the same situation? And what if the rest of the world was doing nothing about
it?"
Other Quotes Drawn From the Column:
Israeli forces begin to carry out Ariel Sharon's stated intention
to sweep through every single Palestinian city, village, and refugee camp in the
coming weeks. The reports of what that means aren't hard to find on the Internet
or in foreign media, and they are hair-raising...
I look at my local newspaper, whose version of "reality" is so completely out of sync with that of Sharon, Kristen Schurr, or even British and European media as to be surreal...
...[Bush] who, until Thursday, solidly cast his lot with Sharon, solidifying Bush's place as a figure despised by much of the world -- at a time when his constituents are particularly vulnerable to anti-U.S. rage...
Bush and his handlers are, with no public outcry, backing one of the most barbaric military attacks in memory, an invasion that is coldly, intentionally and repeatedly flouting just about every known standard for conduct in war. No provocation can possibly justify Israel's treatment of the civilian population, which includes herding Palestinian men with numbers written on their forearms into "camps" surrounded by electric fences.
I look at my local newspaper, whose version of "reality" is so completely out of sync with that of Sharon, Kristen Schurr, or even British and European media as to be surreal...
...[Bush] who, until Thursday, solidly cast his lot with Sharon, solidifying Bush's place as a figure despised by much of the world -- at a time when his constituents are particularly vulnerable to anti-U.S. rage...
Bush and his handlers are, with no public outcry, backing one of the most barbaric military attacks in memory, an invasion that is coldly, intentionally and repeatedly flouting just about every known standard for conduct in war. No provocation can possibly justify Israel's treatment of the civilian population, which includes herding Palestinian men with numbers written on their forearms into "camps" surrounded by electric fences.
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OUTSIDE THE
BOX
Five Star
Piece: Firm Boosts Profits by Asking Staff to
Cuddle, Ananova News
Service, UK -- April 5,
2002
Suzanne's
comments: Now, here's a change of pace.
You just know this is the world we could be having, and look how little it
takes. May this piece circulate widely -- perhaps all our readers would pass it
on. "A West Midlands firm says profits are soaring since staff were encouraged
to hug each other every day."
A West Midlands firm says profits
are soaring since staff were encouraged to hug each other every
day.
Boss Jerry Farrelly says profits are up 200%
since he introduced an ancient Chinese philosophy to workers at his heating
company three years ago.
Soothing music is also played, overtime is
banned and the company in Sutton Coldfield gives staff expenses to socialize.
Although they're urged to hug colleagues at the
end and start of each day, shyer workers are allowed to just shake hands or pat
each other on the back.
Mr. Farrelly discovered the philosophy of Tao Te
Ching in a management course. It
dates back to the 5th Century BC.
The 44-year-old told The Sun: "We find that by creating this easy atmosphere, staff
respond by giving their all.
"There is a lot of love in the office so people
do not fall out. They look forward to returning to their jobs after the weekend.
We're all searching for spiritual and physical harmony."
Farrelly Facilities and Engineering's 50 workers
say the philosophy works.
Draughtsman Craig Bosley, 29, said: "I have been with cut-throat companies before. I
can't believe how enlightened it is here."
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William Rivers Pitt, Listmember and author
of three of our Five Star Pieces [http://www.theconversation.org/fivestar.html], writes
back:
SUZANNE: How do
you know so much? I am dumbfounded at how penetrating you are – not just at
making sense of what is known, but in incorporating things (like what people are
thinking) that seem like they would not be known. So how do you know? And, if
Bush were steering the ship like an adult, what would he do?
What I know how to do is cross connect smart people,
most of whom it seems are talking to audiences and not to each other. Hopefully
this can ignite some sparks of solution.
WILLIAM: I know so much because I'm an
internet junkie who spends a ton of time on forums like Democratic Underground [http://www.democraticunderground.com] and
CapitolGrilling [http://www.capitolgrilling.com], vacuuming up data. I also have a smart mother
who taught me right. :)
As for your question re Bush:
1. He'd have engaged in the Middle East on day one of
his administration. Period.
2. He'd be trying to get to the roots of terrorism --
poverty, religious extremism, oppression -- rather than simply killing people,
bombing villages and thereby making more terrorists.
3. He'd seek compromise from the Democratic Senate on
issues they can both win on (tax cuts, education, salvaging social
security).
What he can do now is to send Clinton (who still has
enormous pull over there), to the Middle East. The other smartest thing would be
to send Powell with an agenda immediately. The dumb thing would be to send
Powell next week with no agenda.
Guess which one he'll do?
SUZANNE: I think that Clinton idea is
brilliant. Now, there's something outside the box, in which this mortal combat
feels unsolvable. And, in addition to the unique position Clinton holds as
having been able to arbitrate in the Middle East, that also would be a leap into
the bi-partisanship that, on our side, would be so propitious. Is Clinton's
involvement on any table besides yours? Leaps are what are needed here, as
everyone still continues to crawl.
WILLIAM: His name has been bandied
about by pundits and some folks in the media, but not by any administration
people. Frankly, I think Bush would rather set his own testicles on fire than
send Bill to the Middle East. The juxtaposition of competence to incompetence
would be staggering...and the wingers'd have to admit that Bill was a pretty
goddamn good President after all.
Bush will send Carter instead, who will fail.
Etc.
SUZANNE: My logic says that it isn't
that "the wingers'd have to admit that Bill was a pretty goddamn good President
after all" (a whole other can of worms), but that it would bring the Democrats
into a viability that they don't have now. Still too endarkened out there for
bipartisanship, even if it means the salvation of humanity.
How much do you know about crop circles [http://www.mightycompanions.org/cropcircles]
(speaking of salvation of humanity)? I know a lot. This summer, thanks to
documentaries, we will know we are being visited. It's my great hope for
shifting consciousness – something way outside the box. If we are all junior to
something greater than we are, will we be able to continue our smaller game of
warring parts?
WILLIAM: The only thing I know about
crop circles is that Mel Gibson is making a movie about them [http://bventertainment.go.com/movies/signs].
That, and some Brits in England admitted to making a bunch of them not long ago.
I'll be interested to see those documentaries.
SUZANNE: Stay tuned...
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