[Ailist] Positive Core of America: responsibility

[Capela2 at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/12/09 5:57:04 AM Eastern Standard Time,  
robyn at litglobal.com writes:

I see  this time in America as filled with the greatest possibility,  
thanks  to its voting for Barack Obama.  He is a man of such holistc   
vision, yet the divisiveness in the country seems to be  re-surfacing.   
I am growing disillusioned with the language and  focus of  
conversations, initiated by the mainstream  media.   I rarely listen  
to, or watch the news, as the  negativity, the “me-ness”, the fear, and  
the focus on the  “struggles”, the “tough times”, the sense of  
“powerlessness” and  “panic”, “despair” – all focused around the  
financial industry -  drives me nuts.  It is ugly, representing greed,  
power, winning  at any cost.  As a counter to the negativity, it seemed   
important to hear what else America has given the world, from   
Americans themselves - to keep connected to the best the nation has  to  
offer.

Rather than dwell on my own current irritations, I  wanted to hear from  
“you all”  so I could share your  excitements and hopes and dreams for  
this country and how it can  contribute positively to the world. 


Regarding Robyn's comments above I to get frustrated listening to the  media. 
At times we need to refocus and see what is out there to appreciate. I  just 
finished doing a session with workers at HeartShare that focused on our  
organizational values - its on YouTube and while I was doing the presentation  for 
a group of workers working in a group home for developmental  disabilities a 
consumer wanted to make sure I had a good cup of coffee.  What was interesting 
this individual when he first came to the home was  incapable to do something 
like this. Now some may say what's the big deal? But  when you are doing a 
presentation and see the positive effect workers have on  the lives of those who 
are disabled a simple act like making sure you have a cup  of coffee before 
you present from someone who didn't have any skills before and  then look out to 
a group of workers who in their own way played a role in  helping the 
consumer reach a potential that he didn't have before helped me to  realize that 
there are many positives out there unfortunately they don't get  seen by others. 
 
Stan Capela