[Dialogue] 9 CRITICAL CONTRADICTIONS

Fri Mar 25 12:32:04 CDT 2011

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Zahrt 
  To: Dialogue ICA ; OE 
  Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 12:59 PM
  Subject: [Dialogue] 9 CRITICAL CONTRADICTIONS

  I'm certain that I've missed out on the on-going dialogue over the past year because of the transition from the family Homestead in Iowa to Carson City, NV.

  Where would I find a copy of the file <CRITICAL UNDERLYING CONTRADICTIONS.doc>?

  David

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  CRITICAL UNDERLYING CONTRADICTIONS

  Context:  The world is faced with many issues and multiple contradictions.  But there are contradictions that are more critical because they represent the blockages that if not solved within the next 10-15 years will lead to severe consequences to the world's ability to create a viable and sustainable future.  We have witnessed many major issues in recent times.  These include famine, refugees, HIV/AIDS, pandemics, natural disasters to name a few.  As bad as these are, they don't seem to me to be looming as "must solve now" issues.  I say this without a clear picture of the HIV/AIDS situation, especially in Africa.  It seemed just a few years ago that this health issue was indeed a "tipping point" one for the planet, but with recent advances and mobilized effort it seems to have somewhat less urgency as compared with other issues.

  It is important to understand how we speak of underlying contradiction.  For me, the term has four distinct characteristics.

    1.. Contradictions become apparent when vision is clarified.  They are located in the current situation, but are defined by the future.  Therefore, vision creation, not problem solving is the first step.
    2.. Contradictions are real, but often hidden in a set of assumptions or beliefs, or structures that once may have been valid but are no longer.  They are never "a lack of something" but seeing the gap often points to the block that is preventing the gap from being addressed.  Therefore, deep discernment and dialogue are required to arrive at the aha (!) that signals the emergence of the contradiction.
    3.. Contradictions are the window to the future.  This phrase, which we so often have talked about in our strategic planning processes, is a profound affirmation of life itself.  It means possibility is always within our situation and if we embrace (love) the contradiction it will guide us to the future.  There is a release of energy, blocked care, that allows us to focus our creativity and to measure our success.  It becomes our touchstone of life-giving possibility.  Therefore, it is important how we name the contradiction.
    4.. Contradictions, when named and declared, lose much of the power they held on the situation.  Therefore there is always a component of awakenment as well as spirit involved in any removal of underlying contradictions.

  The world is awakening to the reality that our life together is inseparable.  We are one humanity, part of a biospheric whole system in which our stewardship and care for the planet and one another is no longer an option.  The suffering of the planet and its inhabitants is directly connected to my life, and more important, is affected by what I do or don't do.  The Earth belongs to all.  This reality is growing stronger every day.  The cry for action grows as well as the despair of inaction or ineffective action.  This is the work of the Guilds.  To find ways, in local and regional situations and within the structures of society, to creatively address them and to share their success and insights with others.  

  We claimed the indicative reality of the earth belonging to all as meaning; all of the goods of the earth belong to all, all the decisions of history belong to all and all the gifts of humanness belong to all.  In other words, we are one system and therefore we all must participate and sustain that system so that all benefit and none are exploited by others.  

  In the light of the above context, I would offer what I feel are the nine critical contradictions facing humanity today.  I have identified three for each of the three areas of the common vision.

  ALL THE GOODS OF THE EARTH BELONG TO ALL

    1.. Biospheric System Dissonance.  Our biosphere is in deep trouble.  Global warming, water crisis, species loss, deforestation, desertification, over-fishing, pollution, etc. all point to a crisis in sustainability that must be solved now.  The earth has the ability to sustain and replenish itself if given the care and opportunity to do so.  There are deep and abiding cycles to the system that need to be understood and lived with in harmony.  I use the word dissonance to point to the reality that this cyclical care is not being honored.

    2.. Unfettered Growth Ambitions.  The American dream is the world's nightmare.  Living in India I see the consequences of this everyday.  Everyone feels entitled to have a car, a large home, energy consuming appliances etc.  There are no limits except what can be afforded or procured.  Consumerism is the new religion and everyone is a believer.  "We need to conserve, we need to develop alternatives, we need a more natural and simple life style, but for now, I want my share and since I can now afford it I will."  The 2.5 billion Indians and Chinese are coming on stream and we all have huge issues (energy, water etc.) on our hands.

    3.. 95-5 Wealth Gap.  Thirty years ago we spoke in terms of the 80-20 gap of the have/have-nots.  Although that gap is still there along with consequences (health care, education, skills, income) today there is a new gap that is threatening the balance of sustainability.  Across the world has emerged a concentration of wealth with a few, far greater than any time in history.  The consequences of that wealth means the ability to control decisions, wield power and influence and to control the destiny of us all to a degree that can only be called criminal in light of what is needed.  Much of this wealth is concentrated in the upper management of global corporations which inhibits any attempt to bring their corporate operations in alignment with the greater good.

  ALL THE DECISIONS OF HISTORY BELONG TO ALL

    1.. Polarized Conflict Paradigm.  I'm not sure this is the right name, but let me point to the reality.  War and disputes have always been with us.  But today we seem to be more polarized than ever.  Finding common ground is more and more difficult.  We also seem to be spending inordinate amounts on armaments and advanced weapons.  The UN has become impotent as a force for conflict disputes.  We need to have peace and reconciliation in so many places, but is extremely difficult to succeed. The media is complicit in this. There are forces and structures that are benefiting from the continuation of this.  Perhaps a better name would be Fear Based Relationships or Perpetuation.

    2.. Global-Local Polity Gap.  For a good number of years now we have been aware that decisions in one part of the global system can have adverse affect on another part of the system.  There is a deep sense of impotence to the fact that some people's decisions and actions affect me, but I have no recourse or ability to be part of that decision.  Today those decisions/actions are more powerful than ever and we need a new understanding of global polity.  The insight we had on the Global Grid dynamics of Globalis, Regionalis, and Localis needs revisiting.

    3.. Erosion of The Commons.  I borrowed this from Bill Moyers' essay.  Throughout history there has always been an understanding that in some way we are responsible for one another.  Most modern democratic governments have recognized this in their laws and programs.  Today, we see the erosion of this in many places in the world.  The power of privatizing public services and the seduction of the market economy has meant there is now a huge hole in the safety nets of the world that cannot, and should not, be filled with charity.

  ALL THE GIFTS OF HUMANESS BELONG TO ALL

    1.. Western Values Domination.  There is no stopping the spread of McDonalds, Starbucks and Wal-Mart to every corner of the world.  With this economic rip tide comes an implicit lifestyle and value system.  But the effect of this is more than economic.  There is a loss in the surrendering of traditional values.  There is a diminishing of global cultural enrichment and a growing xenophobia for the west.  What you do and what you have governs self-worth.  The implicit dimension of life is discounted.   Elders and youth suffer from a paradigm of productivity equals human value.  The gifts of the global culture have become smothered.

    2.. Emerging Religious Radicalization.  Perhaps this has more to do with the reactionary response to how the world is developing, but it has spawned a significant global threat.  We have reached a point where all religions need to explore the profound humanness that unites us all.  We need a new language and a new process of dialogue that honors the historical gifts and insights, but bridges the divides now threatening the world.

    3.. Profane Earth Consciousness.  This is perhaps the most important one of all as it is in the realm of the global myth.  As long as the western scientific paradigm dominates our relationship to the earth ("it-ness") we will not succeed.  The aboriginal consciousness of our oneness with all creation needs to be present in every structure and every decision.  

  Like any matrix of contradictions these have deep connectivity and reinforce each other to a high degree.  But solving one does not necessarily remove another.  If it does, then we don't have separate contradictions.  However, there may be a priority that needs to be understood and certainly any set of new directions would address several of these contradictions at a time.

  Jack Gilles

  Junaluska 2007
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