[Ailist] Appreciation vs. Cynicism

[Lionel Boxer]

Yes Kevin - I agree with you.  The president is seleted by the people
and will be someone the people relate to and do not find threatening. 
So, the opportunity for someone who wants to change things is limited to
how well they can veil their vision for change in terms of the status
quo.  The consort / first lady has a support role that should complement
that.

An issue that may not be picked up in these discussions is how much
America have been traditionally disliked throughout the world, which
appears to be something that is only now being reflected on by some
Americans.  I remember watching David Letterman and his friend Regis
asking each other "why did they do this to us" shortly after 9/11/2001. 
I also remember watching a well-known and successful Australian
indigenous man state that he thought America deserved the strike against
them and the way his comment was denounced universally without
reflecting on what he meant (I certainly do not agree with his
suggestion that America should have been attacked, but I felt that I
understood what he wanted to say to the world).

Having spent the last two weeks visiting and working with people in SE
Asia and ME, I am beginning to feel that the last thing the world needs
is more western white people who are slothfully consuming
disproportionate resources and inspiring developing nations towards
consumerism.  If that is what Mrs Obama means then I totally support her
in an appreciative way; how is our behaviour contributing to a more
sustainable way?  I do not think there is anything cynical about that
concern.

We need to be kind to people - all people - and teach them how to be
kind to one another without emulating the slothfulness of western white
people.  It may be helpful if American elects a president who
understands that and is able to articulate that in a way that inspures
Americans to behave in a more appreciative way.  However, my comments
are in no way meant to be political or even journalistic of the election
taking place in the USA.

Lionel Boxer CD PhD MBA BTech(IndEng) - 0411267256
Associate of RMIT University - lionel.boxer at rmit.edu.au
Graduate School of Business
What's up?: http://intergon.net/events.html
The Sustainable Way: http://intergon.net/tsw
>>> "Kevin Kervick" <kervick at comcast.net> 09/03/08 8:06 AM >>>
Well, that's the rub I suppose.  Ms. Obama is running for first lady of
the country.  As such she is speaking for the country, or she should. 
The "us" necessarily is the collective identity of the United States of
America.  If she cannot contextualize herself as connected to the us and
advocate for the US as her "us" then I would not be able to endorse her
husband for President.  That's the distinction.  Respectfully, I do not
believe that someone should represent the country from the position of
the perspective of someone outside the country.  It's pretty simple,
really.  There is an American identity that Presidents need to embody. 
If they cannot accommodate to that stance that's fine, we are free, but
it disqualifies one from being President in my opinion.  I want someone
that loves this country, warts and all.  And appreciates us.

Furthermore, most social indicators improved dramatically in this
country from about 1985 to 2001.  Crime dropped dramatically.  Youth
improved across the board.  Volunteerism rose dramatically.  Charitible
giving was way up.  The economy was great.  Poverty declined.  So, she
is just plain wrong on the issues.

The related issue is whether or not Ms. Obama speaks for her husband. 
If she does then I think he has problems.

Kevin
  ----- 
   

  With Ms. Obama's quote, some questions that beg to be asked for me
are:

  §    What does she mean by the 'US'-is she talking about all the
individuals who collectively make up a country that is called the US? 
Is she talking about how the US is seen by others in the world? Is she
talking about the collective impact the US is having now (for itself and
in the world) as compared to say 1776 or 1965 or 19The 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