Can I get some help with my homework?

[elian]

I was thinking this morning about all the divisiveness that we are currently experiencing on so many different levels. It sure seems as though people can't agree on anything these days. As was proven here recently people often get caught up in the emotion of their arguments and the frustration of being presented with the same action/result over and over. Are we truly out of time? Back up against the wall?

So my idea is let's not get caught up in yet another gut wrenching news story, what we ought to be doing is looking past that initial reaction to find ways of learning to come together again. It occurred to me that I may not be the only one experiencing frustration at the current political climate. As a group LGBT know better than most what it feels like to be discriminated against, and they know what the desire to be accepted feels like.

So if you could change anything you like, if you had unlimited potential and resources, would you have any ideas on how we can begin to heal the "if you're not for us, you must be against us!" attitude?

Let's not wait for another "external" event, such as 9/11 to bring people together - bringing together people in fear or sorrow - why can't we come together in happiness? I bet, if we tried REALLY hard and got a lot of people involved we could do it together anyway.

[elian]

One thing that I have seen used in discussions is a certain protocol where the participants go around the room in a round robin fashion and each person is allowed to give a brief statement about their experience after a certain lesson or topic is discussed. They cannot speak again until all people have had an initial opportunity to talk. They aren't allowed to comment on OTHER people's statements and they aren't allowed to interrupt. In this way you go away listening and considering more than you do speaking or judging others directly..

[Realist]

I'd love to see one news broadcast, or controversial post, here, where the principle commentator didn't interrupt someone and interject his own thoughts. I've noticed many times that what a guest/poster was saying went right over the commentator's head and his response was 180 degrees from what was said by the guest.

A little courtesy and forethought, before speaking/writing would make things a lot easier on those interested in the subject.

I'm not casting stones because I've got no guilt, as I have done the same things, myself.

I'm trying to be better, honest!

[elian]

Thanks for your thoughts Realist,. I have witnessed that too - people so impatient that they can't give the other person respect by giving them a chance to finish speaking.

Just so we're clear my meaning is not to only use this thread to chastise people either - I really see the divisiveness as a problem in the larger world and I would like to know what other people think about it or if there are ways to fix it (if it needs fixed)?

Everybody's got to have something to dream about, some goal right? What I would consider the hallmark of a good society is people manage to leave the world a little better than the way they found it. There are a lot of doomsayers but I think it's still possible.

[Long Duck Dong]

ok in NZ my friends and I are close to closing the deal on buying a bar that is loosely seen as a LGBT bar....but it is not going to be LGBT exclusive...... it will be done in the theme of community friendly, where the staff are all sexualities.... and with theme nights that open the door for all people to participate......

the vision is for there to be a visible and invisible presence in the center of town..... so that closeted LGBT can mingle with out lgbt in a * safe setting * and get to know other people, lgbt and others... and so that the non lgbt people can mingle with the LGBT and see that we are simply normal people..... and from the profits of the bar, we will be financing other LGBT friendly environments that include all.......

it has meant a lot of sacrifice for me.... I have had to put aside my own interests of my own home and it has delayed DD getting here sooner, which is something that has really been hard on us.....but we are close to realising all those dreams ( hopefully within the next two years )

the bar is not the first project I have worked with my friends on.... we have a number of established ventures in place around the top of the south island already......

how we deal with the US vs THEM aspect, is that we do not make it about sexuality....we involve people like people that are not LGBT friendly, monogamous people and partners etc... some of our * enemies * and the idea behind it, is that it is always easier to * attack others * on a forum behind a user name or as a protest group than it is to do it to their face when people have to work beside them... and we have a pretty good rate of compromise and understanding.....but its not about changing their thinking to match ours or assimilating the * enemy *, its putting a face on the * enemy * and giving everybody the chance to talk and get to know each other....and that is a two way street as there are some opinionated LGBT people that are constantly against other groups, in the same way there are non lgbt that do the same......

the inspiration for this came from the time when I worked as a barman / doorman in a LGBT bar years ago, when the LGBT and partners all had just the one bar to meet and it forced them to mingle with other people, even when they did not all get along......

I am realistic in that it is not going to fix the US vs THEM issue.....but the ones that will be excluded, will be the people that become overly aggressive and confrontational with others as that is disruptive..... they have the right to express a opinion that is debatable or disagreeable..... but telling others that they do not belong or that they should not be there, is not something that is acceptable or will be tolerated...... and that is why they are community friendly places that have a LGBT social meeting ground aspect.....

the ironic thing.... is that its really of no benefit to me at all..... I will always be a outsider and not really part of the * community * due to personal issues....and its cos of that, that I help work to give others a sense of * home *......

[elian]

Neat idea LDD, I hope it works out for you and is successful :)

I also found this video - I am always looking toward art for personal inspiration - video, music .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhEUJff_qQ The diplomat in me always wonders if people see this sort of message and they immediately think "socialism" (which in my country is a dirty word) - but the video reminds me that none of us act in isolation. Having to face diversity growing up, I recognize that there can be beauty and value in the philosophy of other cultures as well as my own.

[pepperjack]

Thanks for your thoughts Realist,. I have witnessed that too - people so impatient that they can't give the other person respect by giving them a chance to finish speaking.

Just so we're clear my meaning is not to only use this thread to chastise people either - I really see the divisiveness as a problem in the larger world and I would like to know what other people think about it or if there are ways to fix it (if it needs fixed)?

Everybody's got to have something to dream about, some goal right? What I would consider the hallmark of a good society is people manage to leave the world a little better than the way they found it. There are a lot of doomsayers but I think it's still possible.

Yes, it's still possible. http://www.my-inspirational-quotes.com/positive-quotes/happiness-is-like-a-butterfly-said-henry-david-thoreau/

[pepperjack]

I have also seen happiness defined most recently as effective problem solving.

[pepperjack]

Which coincides with.....http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=8585.

[elian]

Which coincides with.....http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=8585.

I am glad to see when someone uses their faith in a positive way. I believe that "grace is always available" (probably much to the dismay of those who would only work through intermediaries) and also that happiness isn't something you can own outright (much to the dismay of several marketers). You can BE happy, you can choose to smile at the world - even when your day is really crappy - some times it smiles back. One thing you cannot do is OWN happiness. I used to buy all kinds of gadgets, toys but none of them ever satisfied me the way working with other people has. No one THING can make you happy, like a kitten purring it is more like a side effect of what you do with the tools you have been given.

People sometimes say, "but I am not a spiritual person." Fine - the Earth itself, space - and all that we can see makes a fine PHYSICAL example of the manifestation of the divine..you can see the results of pouring love into a garden, you can see the results of taking more than you need, you can see the results of the numbness of war.

UU's have a saying - "Prayer doesn't change things, prayer changes people, and people change things." I have seen it both ways, success and a sense of achievement through hard work in human hands - and other times when some situation or some person comes into our life and it truly seems like a miracle. I would define a miracle as a catalyst for change, and not all of them are felt as positive at the time, but ultimately they may help us become better people. Both faith AND reason are important - they temper each other, critical thought is also very important. However any of these concepts can be overused and abused. I know some people follow faith blindly and some people who can "reason" their way to any conclusion. I believe that the divine gave us free will so that we CAN ask questions without fear, discover and learn.

There is no reason a person cannot have both faith and personal empowerment, indeed many faiths believe in the law of karma, and that personal responsibility for our actions is important.

[pepperjack]

Very well said! I read this post several times and found myself slightly disagreeing with only one statement; I personally believe faith is self empowerment. I especially liked your comment about faith being tempered by reason. Coincidentally, just today, I was pondering on the concept of justice tempered with mercy.

[elian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVRT-y2wTBY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vkl9r9pTa0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9OFQaqmYk

[void()]

Happiness is not a commodity, I think if every person could be aware of that, life's quality would improve for all.

[elian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTfx-fm_ZzU

She talks about getting "hooked" on having to react, and also a possible reason for the perpetuation of prejudice.

[void()]

Enjoyed those videos. I like the concept of hooks. *sigh* Don't think anyone is immune to hooks.