[Ailist] Appreciation vs. Cynicism

[Charlotte Henley]

Wow, I think we all need a group hug.... I was still trying to reconcile the
Steve Jobs, mac pc debate and now we have politics.  I have come to
understand AI as a way of life....  it has not always been easy for me to
reconcile some of my negative feelings that get mustered up in certain
circumstances and by certain people.  But I believe in the essence of
positive and how being appreciative can add to my personal journey of joy
and hope for myself... and my country and the world.  One small appreciative
thought can resonate with people that is carried on and on.   I value anyone
who has enough creative energy to bring to the world things that make it
great.  My mother loved music and as she lay dying I had her listen to all
her favorite music on the ipod....She smiled as she passed. Thank you steve
jobs.   And I value anyone republican, democrat, liberal or conserative who
has the guts to challenge the status quo...whatever the viewpoint.... it is
a way to change....  So I have learned through AI to be appreciative of all
persons.   I appreciate anyone who can speak their mind in a way that will
make me think.  Thank all you courageous people who share your thoughts with
this group.
Charlotte Denny-Henley
Open Door Consulting
Huron, SD

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu]On Behalf Of Kevin
Kervick
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 8:39 AM
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: [Ailist] Appreciation vs. Cynicism


>From Michelle Obama in the New Yorker magazine:

Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008, and life is
not good: we’re a divided country, we’re a country that is “just downright
mean,” we are “guided by fear,” we’re a nation of cynics, sloths, and
complacents. “We have become a nation of struggling folks who are barely
making it every day,” she said, as heads bobbed in the pews. “Folks are just
jammed up, and it’s gotten worse over my lifetime. And, doggone it, I’m
young. Forty-four!”

----

The conventional wisdom among some political observers is that these
comments may be unhelpful to say out loud but they are true. My contention
is they are not true and they reflect misguided and cynical all or nothing
biases that are not supported by the facts.  Unfortunately there is much
support for this line of thinking among liberal people, which may explain
why liberals tend to be less appreciative and less happy than conservatives.

Not much appreciative inquiry here. If Ms. Obama is going to go on a reality
tirade she should get it right.  I like Barack Obama's message of hope as
long as it also includes appreciation of the essential goodness of the
United States. Could she have made her point in a more appreciative way?

I have more on the Catalysts for Change blog at
http://catalystsforchange.blogspot.com/.

Kevin Kervick
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