[Ailist] Positive Core of America

[Robyn Stratton-Berkessel]

Hi Roger and Everyone,

I so appreciate your thoughtful response.  I, too, find most of the  
best and the worst that exists here in the US can be found in other  
affluent, westernized cultures.  My experience and thoughts are  
colored by my own upbringing and all the various associated  
connections.  Here goes in few, generalized words.

Among the best qualities of the US, the first thing that strikes me is  
an extraordinary national pride.  I don't know of another country that  
flies so many flags, all the time.  To have a flag flying from your  
house and car was new for me.  The sharing of knowledge and skills and  
the generosity of individuals who give to their causes of choice are  
other best qualities; celebration of others' successes and holding  
them up as roles models; strong assertive behaviors;  the fundamental  
belief in and practice of individual opportunity and personal  
freedoms.  There are multiple ways at looking at these attributes, and  
it's what we pay attention to that grows, right?

Possible areas for improvement to bring about justice, equity and  
equality:  to put into practice all the goodness that is espoused - in  
the personal, corporate and legislative arenas.  To listen with open  
heart to all beings, especially give access to the disenfranchised who  
don't have the capital to make their voices heard.   To be curious and  
inviting of diversity - religious, racial, cultural, physical, gender,  
economic.  To value more than material success and power: to recognize  
that being the  dominant, most powerful nation implies others are less  
and subservient.  Greatest opportunity:  a mindset shift from fear to  
love and a shift from "I" to "we".

My dream:  in 10 years, the US is playing a servant-leader role.   
Global citizens respect the US and the US respects all others.   
Favoritism to one nation or state above another no longer exists - we  
have a global currency and a global passport - designed and created by  
engaged citizens linked through networks across the world.  We all  
share a pride in our world and our planet.  Children in the Americas  
are learning together with children in Africa, Asian and Europe.  Our  
younger generations have taken the reins and through their strong  
social bonds and networks are implementing and living the changes we  
baby-boomers dreamed and protested about and they have gone far beyond  
what we even imagined.  We live with such awareness that as long as  
one person suffers, we all suffer.  There are so many ways US can set  
the course to shift from fear to love, as it has resources still  -  
gifted, generous people, financial, medical, technological, academic,  
environmental resources and know-how.

I see this is possible from initiatives that have begun already.  I am  
filled with great optimism - in less than 10 year we can change the  
world.

If we have an "Imagine Nepal",  why not an "Imagine America" and next,  
"Imagine the World"!  Who's in?

Kindest regards,

Robyn.

On Mar 2, 2009, at 9:13 AM, Roger Davies wrote:


Hi Robyn

Also being a 'resident alien' but from the UK I understand some of  
what you
say. I would also say that a lot of what I find good about the US is  
also
present in most other parts of the world as is, unfortunately most of  
the
bad.

In answer to your questions:

America's positive core:  Compared to the UK I find a better  
appreciation of
success in the US at all levels. In the UK success is accepted much more
begrudgingly. I also appreciate that the US is built on communities  
being
independent and a need to look after oneself compared to Europe where
historically someone will always look after you. I think the positive
acceptance of independence and success are two of the great US traits.

Opportunities for justice, equity and equality?- I find the US is much  
more
polarized than the UK. I guess the strong sense of independence leads  
to a
strong sense of defense of one's own beliefs. If I picked two  
opportunities
one would be for the US to become more open to learning about the  
views and
history of other cultures in order so that they can reflect on their  
own.
I've yet to see the schools teach my kids anything of history outside  
of the
US. I would not want the US or any other nation to ignorantly tolerate  
other
cultures, but I fear that the supposed acceptance of religious freedom  
in
the US is precisely that. There is a huge difference between tolerance  
and
understanding which leads me to my second point. That is to do a similar
thing on the international stage. Engage other nations in constructive
understanding with a view to creating more future opportunities to work
together. This is not appeasement of nations with poor human rights  
records
or aggressive stances but it is a recognition that the US value system  
is
not the only one with any potential to succeed. From a European  
perspective
' it's not whether you win or lose that matters, it's how you play the  
game'
however the US perspective seems to be 'winning is all that matters'.

In ten years time I would like the US to be perceived as a nation that  
not
only states that it 'the land of the free' but actually consistently  
acts
that way and allows other nations to follow their own path to a  
freedom that
is respectful of their own culture and history. I also believe that it  
has
to be a nation that recognizes that a lack of basic social welfare for  
the
very poorest and under privileged does not uphold freedom. I would not  
want
the US to become a welfare state with the same easy access that allows  
the
UK's system to be abused. However, a just and human society looks  
after its
members; otherwise we are little better than a pack of animals.  
Freedom does
not give one the right to ignore one's responsibilities.


Roger

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Robyn
Stratton-Berkessel
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 3:16 PM
To: Ailist Inquiry
Subject: [Ailist] Positive Core of America

Dear AI community,

I am a 'resident alien' of the US after marrying my German-born,  
American
husband.  My Australian cultural imprint is strongly inclined to fight  
for
the underdog.  We have tendency to "knock down tall poppies", to be
irreverent and anti-authoritarian.

I have been willing regime change for just about the whole 9 years I've
lived here, so during that time, I have been, at times, quite
"unappreciative" and a done my fair share of " **** bashing" - another  
of
our not so generous cultural constructs.

So now that has all passed, I'm seeing the best in America, which  
fills me
up with energy and optimism and hope.  I see such opportunities for us  
to
co-construct.  The shift in what we are now paying attention to leads  
to a
whole new set of discoveries, dreams, designs and destiny.

So I would like us to reflect on the following questions:

What are the best and highest qualities that represent America's  
"positive
core"?
What areas offer America the greatest possibilities to bring about  
justice,
equity and equality?
And, in 10 years, how would we like all global citizens to perceive us?

Appreciatively,

Robyn.

Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
Creator, Positive Matrix www.positivematrix.com Founder, L.I.T. Global
www.litglobal.com
+1 732 291 0462
+1 917 816 5597 (mobile)
Skype: robynsb

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