[Ailist] Appreciation vs. Cynicism

[Dennis Baird]

Charlotte: 
 
Thank you.   
 
I  would really like to see the dialogue on this list focus on the essentials of Appreciative Inquiry.  
 
I wonder if the discussions about Steve Jobs and the Obamas (and other candidates if we continue the present course) are morphing into value statements that masquerade as dialogues on AI.  I have a belief that AI is about focusing on identifying and working with the positive core of people and organizations and not on judging.  Let us remember that "good" people sometime do "bad" things and "bad" people sometime do "good" things.  If we get caught up in judging the worth of people based on their personality or their apparent misstatements then I think we are in deep do-do because none of us is perfect but each of us has a positive core that, Jane assures us, is much larger than our negative core.
 
I appreciate the fact that writers are trying to deal with moral dilemmas but I really feel that we are starting to stray from the original intent of this list.
 
I also realize that I may be missing a greater philosophical implication of the dialogue on Jobs and Obama.  But I am uncomfortable with some of the value statements and judgements I see.    
 
Dennis Baird
A simple(?) Canadian    



> From: chenley at hur.midco.net> To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu> Subject: RE: [Ailist] Appreciation vs. Cynicism> Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008 10:53:48 -0600> 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> _______________________________________________> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles> School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list> administrator. For subscription information, go to:> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist> > > _______________________________________________> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist