[Ailist] Positive Core of America: responsibility

Wed Mar 11 06:54:28 MST 2009

Leif,

As always, you widen the horizon for us.

Madelyn

Madelyn Blair, Ph.D.
Pelerei, Inc.
Turning Vision into Reality
www.pelerei.com
301-371-7100
301-371-7957 (fax)
301-471-8721 (mobile)
Skype ID: madelynblair

On Mar 11, 2009, at 3:20 AM, Leif Josefsson wrote:

> I have followed this thread with interest and, to be honest, in the  
> beginning also with irritation.  After a while, however, I finally  
> find a discussion on AI List that (in one way) takes a broader  
> perspective and actually connects to what is happening in the world/ 
> society of today. But I wondered, why should I think of the positive  
> core of just America?
>
> For a while I was thinking about the possibility of launching a  
> discussion about "The positive core of Sweden"......  but I could  
> not find this a meaningful idea
> So I started to think about launching the thread "The positive core  
> of Europe" - at least that would create a broader perspective. And I  
> think about my experience from participation in the "European  
> Network around Appreciative Inquiry and strength based change" (also  
> called "Begeistring Organisations" | www.networkplace.eu | ) where  
> we have talked a lot about identity.  ("What is it about being  
> European?  Is there a European identity?  Yes, we think so - We are  
> Europeans - and we are different...")
>
> But then we often refer to ourselves as belonging to the "West"  
> which includes also Australia, New Zealand and, probably, Japan.     
> Last year I found Kishore Mahbubani from Singapore who in his book  
> "The rise of the Eastern Hemispher" challenges the dominance of the  
> west.  This speech caught my interest last year.  Somewhat  
> prophetic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GEcXVbsEX8
>
>
> Looking for "The positive core of America" in an international  
> discussion group creates dilemmas:
> It puts all of us in a position where we have to relate to US as a  
> center of the world. Less than 5% of the world's population are  
> Americans (even if the US accounts for 50% of global military  
> spending) And to put the country I live in a perspective, Sweden is  
> 3% of America's population.  3% of 5%......
> It assumes that a nation must have a "positive core"  - risking  
> inquirying into conformity rather than diversity
> Looking for the "positive" it might overshadow important, and  
> possibly painful, changes needed.  Tax rises, role changes, behavior  
> change, self identity change, economic discipline etc
> Risk of having Appreciative Inquiry perceived just as another  
> American Consulting Fad.
> Something that has troubled me following the AI-list during quite  
> some time is the narrowing in on words connected with the words  
> "positive" and "happiness".   There are lots of situation in life  
> where these words rather would be limiting.
>
> When I think of "Appreciative Inquiry" words like curiosity,  
> interest, compassion and engagement feel much more lifegiving to me.
>
> If you have come this far, please do not see this as "America  
> bashing" (and Robin I do not criticize you for starting the  
> discussion).  Apparently the subject has aroused a lot of energy.   
> And one cannot blame Americans for the rest of us being quiet.  So I  
> would like to challenge both Europeans AND "non Westerns" to engage  
> in this discussion which could be reframed to something like
> "How could we look with Compassionate Engagement and Appreciative  
> Curiousity to what is happening in the world today?
> How could we look with a positive lens even if there is an  
> inevitable world shift leading to decreased (relative) influence of  
> America (and Europe) on the world
> How can we use the mindsets, values and tools of Appreciative  
> Inquiry to open up our perspective and to start exploring the world  
> using the eyes, ears and minds of others.
>
> And finally, my reflection on "the positive core":
> There is no common core.  What I find most fascinating about the US  
> is that whatever you are looking for, you will find it.  It is the  
> projection of everyones wishes, fears, dreams. It has been a  
> scapegoat or salvation in minds of people around the world.  There  
> is not one America. To me America is a chaotic multiverse mixup  
> where everybody happens to speak English. I like it.
>
> Thanks for listening This was my personal views. I am happy to  
> belong to the AI-List.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> If you are European or might come to Europe sometime, welcome to  
> register on www.networkplace.eu to the European Network around  
> Appreciative Inquiry and Strength Based Change.  http://www.networkplace.eu/web/page.aspx?pageid=14071
>
> The next European network meeting is in Barcelona April 23-24 - more  
> information here: http://www.networkplace.eu/web/page.aspx?pageid=14110&eventid=4559&page=1
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 11:24 PM, Madelyn Blair <pelerei at mac.com>  
> wrote:
> As I read through what Mary Alice wrote, I had to share with you a  
> story that I gave at a January AI event in Washington, DC.
>
> Living Appreciatively
>
> At the very first meeting of this group that Deb started, she asked  
> if I would do something on story. I decided to do something from my  
> work with Stories inside Words. I told of the project that I am  
> working on to gather stories from peacemakers and the opening set of  
> stories from three ambassadors who told stories inspired by words to  
> the preamble to the Charter of the UN. We played a bit with how  
> words become more alive when stories are told that came from their  
> inspiration. Then I asked the group to tell stories inspired by  
> either the word enquiry or appreciation.
>
> As I listened to the stories, I wondered where this one was going.  
> Could people be so used to the words appreciative inquiry that they  
> would not be able to find something new in themselves? Would all of  
> their stories be of how they used AI? Would the words remain the  
> same to me even after hearing all the stories? I just didn’t know  
> what would happen.
>
> Every other time I have used the Stories inside Words exercise, the  
> participants were excited about the words. They are usually words  
> from mission statements or vision statements. I usually begin with  
> asking them to tell stories inspired by words from mission  
> statements of famous corporations like Niki or Mary Kay or Lego.  
> They have fun with the words, and they see the words come alive in  
> new ways. So, by the time they began to tell stories from their own  
> mission statement, they are having fun, and they are practiced in  
> finding the stories. But with the AI group, we wouldn’t have time to  
> do this extra step. I had to rely on my belief that stories inside  
> words would enliven in any event.
>
> I began to listen to the stories about appreciation or enquiry. The  
> stories were mixed together. As they told their stories, I began to  
> jot down points in their stories. One by one, the stories began to  
> reveal things about the speakers. Perhaps the story was about a  
> family member who had a habit of asking questions about everything.  
> Perhaps the story was about something earlier in their career when  
> someone gave them a real break that set them on the right track.  
> Just as we find in AI work, the response to questions or the telling  
> of the story ‘of the time when’ are revealing about a lot of things.  
> But was there some kernel of something new here? I recognized my own  
> dreariness with the words appreciative inquiry. I had been using  
> that phrase for almost 10 years. I had written about them. I had  
> worked through them. I had taught about them. Would there be  
> something new for me?
>
> I didn’t see it at first. Perhaps because time was running out (I  
> did this in an amazingly short period of time.) and so my thinking  
> cap never got put on right and no new thoughts were coming to me.  
> But the group was happier and happier about what they were seeing in  
> the stories. They certainly got the point. They could see that  
> stories enlivened words. But what about me?
>
> The next day, I began to write up the notes from the session. I  
> typed each phrase, word, and note that I had made. Then as I got  
> toward the end of the list, I felt that tingle of excitement start  
> deep inside. Yes, there was something new there. Word after word  
> just kept adding to the excitement that was growing in me. And  
> suddenly, there it was. The stories about appreciation were about  
> compassion – every story had some aspect in it. The stories about  
> enquiry were about the interaction between two people who were  
> engaged with each other in some form of conversation. That was it –  
> compassionate engagement.
>
> Compassionate engagement. I had it. This was new to me. Suddenly, AI  
> became something entirely revitalized. We engage compassionately  
> with others in compassionate engagement. I have never felt the same  
> about AI since then.
>
> Now, the new words allowed me to broaden my view of, my use of this  
> philosophy. I could design retreats, surveys, or interview  
> protocols; conduct conversations, briefings, or discussions; teach,  
> coach, or advise with my full attention on the others in the room  
> (engagement) and with good intentions toward the other (a  
> compassionate heart).
>
> These two new words were now fresh and alive to me. They also became  
> measures of my intended actions and actual actions. Easy and simple.  
> Be there for the other person with a desire to be helpful and  
> affirming.
>
> I recently conducted some interviews for a book I am writing. The  
> interviews were about how the persons perceived me. Here is one of  
> the statements I recorded: “You always bring a strong desire to  
> understand fully, to assure that the framework is clear, yet you  
> give comfort to others while you do it.”
>
> Compassionate engagement has become my guide post.
>
> M. Blair, January 2009
>
>
> Madelyn Blair, Ph.D.
> Pelerei, Inc.
> Turning Vision into Reality
> www.pelerei.com
> 301-371-7100
> 301-371-7957 (fax)
> 301-471-8721 (mobile)
> Skype ID: madelynblair
>
>
>
> On Mar 9, 2009, at 5:55 PM, Mary-Alice Arthur wrote:
>
> Hello all!
>
> I've been following this thread with interest.  I'd like to add to the
> conversation about 'responsibility' the two words 'connectedness' and
> 'engagement', because I think they help to grow the capacity for
> response-ability.
>
> In November last year I was in Japan, one of a facilitator team at an
> international development conference.  We were working on the 10 UN  
> themes
> and my facilitation partner and I were leading the group on  
> 'Disconnection
> and Barriers to Engagement'.  Now all of the themes are stated in this
> negative way, which makes them very difficult to get excited about  
> and even
> harder to feel like there is hope or an answer.  It didn't surprise  
> me at
> all that the sign announcing our space fell off on the first day and  
> would
> not allow itself to become reattached to the wall!
>
> Through the five days the group worked on this topic, we had very
> interesting conversations, and one stayed with me.  The group had  
> been asked
> to take part in an Appreciative interview in twos and we had one  
> group of
> three.  The two young women in the trio agreed they got connected  
> with other
> people first, then they got engaged.  The young man said he got  
> engaged
> first, then he got connected.  They drew a little circular diagram  
> that
> connected the words 'connection' and 'engagement'.
>
> They then went further and defined 'connection' as something that  
> happens to
> you -- a feeling.  You can become connected to something or someone  
> without
> even being able to understand it.  'Engagement' however, they  
> defined as an
> action; acting on the connection you feel.  I had never heard it  
> defined so
> simply.
>
> The group went on the put ME/WE as the central part of our work (and  
> if you
> can imagine ME on top of WE you will see that they are actually  
> reflections
> of each other in word form).  We came to the conclusion that if ME  
> and WE
> are beautiful reflections of each other and individual and community
> well-being are beautiful reflections of each other, then the world  
> is a
> beautiful place.
>
> This seems very simple, but, in fact is a very radical idea, if you  
> place it
> in Japan, where WE dominates and overpowers ME or the in the US,  
> were ME
> overwhelms and overshadows WE.
>
> Years ago there was a cover story on FAST COMPANY about Yahoo called  
> 'Love
> is the killer app'.  I believe it is so. If we loved enough there  
> would be
> no power plays at work.  If we loved enough there would be no war.   
> If we
> loved enough there would be no hunger or global desolation through our
> actions.  Imagine a business where leaders loved what they were  
> doing, where
> people loved each other into their best expression, where people loved
> working and clients loved doing business.  This would be the type of  
> world
> where we would naturally take responsibility because it would be an
> outpouring of our love.
>
> Loving enough IS a radical act.  I am continually asking myself  
> whether I am
> up to it.
>
> Blessings,
>
> Mary Alice
>
>
>
> Mary-Alice Arthur
> SOAR
> PO Box 10-868
> Wellington
> New Zealand
> mobile:  +64-21-687-627
> email:  mary-alice at getsoaring.com
> web:  http://www.getsoaring.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
> -- 
> Leif Josefsson
> Förenklare / Facilitator
> LeanderLeander AB
> Communicate & Change
> Ölandsgatan 48 - 116 63 Stockholm - tel +46 (0)70-773 00 54
>
> www.leanderleander.com