permaculture

[Keith Johnson <keithdj@mindspring.com>]

Since we all all adults, I think we can mutually acknowledge that words 
are words, and not sticks, stones, arrows, bullets, or bombs. Hence our 
use of terms like attack, tear down, slam, and destroy are themselves 
inflations of simple expressions of anger, sorrow, and / or fear. All 
that has been expressed are merely emotions. Adding the terminologies of 
war do nothing to further the conversation and exchange of opinions, but 
instead further add to the conflict. We can acknowledge the hurts and 
wounds caused by words, but if we simply remember that love and care are 
the motivating, and mutual, ethical foundations of Permaculture and our 
own common denominators, can't we simply support, AND FORGIVE, the 
honest communication of feelings without interpreting them through a 
warlike terminologies which require blame and scapegoats, an US and THEM 
interpretation?

In my opinion, Larry has done NONE of the things of which you accuse 
him. He has merely expressed a feeling. If we, like children and 
adolescents, interpret that as attack, tearing down, slamming and 
destroying, we thus become the flimsy, weak-hearted victims of one 
another, blaming and shaming and dividing. In other words we become the 
very thing we were criticizing. Is this a mature response?

When a large group of people were asked if George W were a uniter or a 
divider, half said divider and half said uniter. The results speak for 
themselves.

If we are afraid of the expression of anger (or fear or sorrow), then we 
are already failing to love.

Love consents to feel, even, or especially, another's fear, sorrow and 
anger. We can sympathize and, thus, forgive. The loveless heart requires 
a victim and all the  war and retribution that accompanies it. We can, 
and must, design a culture that understands, and renders obsolete, these 
loveless and weak-hearted interpretations of another's truth.

Respectfully,
Keith




Greg wrote:

> All,
>
> I agree that Larry London has done a fine job of creating and 
> facilitating the list, there is no denying this.  Where my heart hurts 
> is when someone attacks another unprovoked.  I think that is where the 
> problem lies.  The world is no better off by these actions, it just 
> serves to destroy people and their dreams.
>
> We are all entitled to our opinions.  I think that it is crossing a 
> line of respect to tear down others ideas simply because one does not 
> agree.  It also creates a shallow environment where people don't want 
> to participate.  I for one want all to feel welcome to participate 
> without the possibility of being slammed.
>
> Greg Peterson
> The Urban Farm
>
>
> > I'd like to second the motion that this list owes more to Lawrence 
> > London
> > than to any other contributor. He makes a first class host, and gives 
> > form to the
> > enterprise.
> >
> > Anyone unhappy with some comment or another made by anyone is certainly
> > welcome to give voice to his complaint.
> >
> > M. Elvin
> > _______________________________________________
> > permaculture mailing list
> > permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture

--
Keith Johnson
Permaculture Activist Magazine
PO Box 1209
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828)669-6336

also Patterns for Abundance Design & Consulting
Culture's Edge at Earthaven Ecovillage
http://www.permacultureactivist.net
http://www.earthaven.org
http://www.bioregionalcongress.org





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