[Ailist] Loving Politicians etc

Fri May 2 13:56:40 MDT 2008

Dear Jane, Nick and AI practitioners everywhere:

I feel strongly about the notion in this thread that our media is not
serving us well when it comes to portray images and stories of human hope,
courage and goodness.  And I also believe that those who create the media
(journalists, tv and radio producers, artists, etc.) have deeper aspirations
for a better world.  They get caught in the culture of their own
organizations (and sometimes the world of journalism can be pretty "macho")
they may lose sight of the ideals that brought them into journalism in the
first place.  

I live in the Vancouver area of British Columbia and want to host a forum
for journalists and those who work in the media industry to come together in
appreciative dialogue to find out what their role can be in creating a
sustainable, life promoting future for this planet.

I am inspired by and draw on the work of Images and Voices of Hope--they
have developed some brilliant appreciative questions that include this one.
I want to share it here because it speaks to the heart of what draws me to
organize such a forum:

Your vision for a better media system (the language, images and stories that
are created and disseminated by the media system have a profound impact on
our society and on the planet.  Our collective imagery can transform the
world in powerful ways.  Now that you have described your vision of a future
world (they do this in a previous AI question) imagine the kind of media
system that is working to the best of its capabilities, a system that lives
up to the ideal of freedom of speech and that fully takes its responsibility
to serve humanity on this planet.  What does this media system look
like...what are its best qualities..what special contributions does it make
toward the creation and protection of the world you truly want? 

If there is anyone living in this area (or anywhere out there) that would
like to join me in organizing and hosting a forum for journalists and those
in the media, I would LOVE to hear from you.

Kathryn

Kathryn Thomson
--------------------------
Proteus Communications
proteus at shawbiz.ca
604 947 0429
Some doors open only from the inside  Hafiz                            
-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Jane Magruder
Watkins
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 7:04 PM
To: 'Nick Heap'; ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: RE: *****SPAM***** [Ailist] Loving Politicians etc

Dear Nick: BRAVO!!!! I worked in Washington for many years in all parts of
the government and it is a city full of wonderful people committed to making
our country strong and healthy. I can't understand why people believe the
mess that the media puts out without checking for themselves first! Thanks
for your hopeful note. 

Appreciatively, Jane

Jane Magruder Watkins & Ralph Kelly
Appreciative Inquiry Unlimited
An Organization Development Center for Teaching, Consulting and Mentoring

Office & Home
233A Woodmere Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 259-9942

MarshHaven Retreat Center
P.O. Box 541
1702 Wheat Patch Road
Belhaven, NC 27810
(252) 964-3072 

www.appreciativeinquiryunlimited.com

Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination by Jane Magruder
Watkins & Bernard Mohr can be ordered from Amazon.com or JosseyBassWiley

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Nick Heap
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 6:44 AM
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: *****SPAM***** [Ailist] Loving Politicians etc

I have had some thoughts about making the world a better place for a long
time and just wanted to share them with you. I have a feeling they just
could make a difference and be quite simple to do. I wonder what you think?

Love politicians

This is a radical thought! Politicians are people so, however it may appear,
just like us they are always doing the best they can. It may not be the best
possible, but given their history and circumstances it is the best they can
at the time. So blaming and criticizing is no help. In any case, you can't
manage the past only learn from it.

Politicians may enjoy exercising power, but so do we all. They do decide to
manage on our behalf anything that may happen. This is an awesome
responsibility. All of them would earn much more in a less demanding role.

I would like to see us supporting and loving politicians rather than
criticizing them personally. Challenging their ideas is fine. If we elect
them to help us, we should help them. One way might be to catch them doing
something right and send an appreciative note. Another might be to offer
some time or a listening ear. What do you think you could do?

Finding the healthiest happiest people and discovering why and how

Some people are both healthy and happy. They are not necessarily "rich".
There is no evidence that material wealth, beyond quite a modest income,
adds to either. It could be that these happy and healthy people are doing
some things, or thinking some things that directly contribute to them being
happy and healthy. If this is so, and we knew what it was, we could choose
to do the same.

We could find some healthy and happy people and find out what they do and
how they think. Who knows, there might be simple things we could all do.

There are already some clues active churchgoing can add years to active
life. A positive attitude to ageing can do the same.

Neighbours from heaven

I get fed up and depressed by all the television programmes that show people
at their worst. They are typically called "Neighbours from hell". I imagine
the effect on the viewers is either to confirm their prejudices that people
are awful or that this is all you can expect from a particular class or
group of people. Neither is very productive.

So, what about some programmes e g "Neighbours from Heaven" that showed the
best of people instead? These would show heart-warming stories of
extraordinary generosity and kindness. Instead of depressing the viewer,
they would challenge and inspire her or him to do something similar. This
would increase the amount of positive energy and spirit. If might encourage
more of us to pay attention to good things, and then we would feel better
too.

These are three of a longer list that is here
http://makeyourworldhappy.blogspot.com/

If you have any comments, or can suggest ways of progessing these thoughts,
I would be glad to hear them.

Best wishes

Nick

Web: www.nickheap.co.uk

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