Setting an example of how to share ideas and respect one another- taking the high road- is very important to the future of that group. Slash and burn attitudes towards community have been a fundamental part of the dynamic of destruction we’re trying to reverse. We need to establish a sustainable “permaculture” culture to underpin everything else, from the economic on down. We don’t have to accept every idea that anyone comes up with, but we do need to accept that no individual is disposable, and that respect is the currency of social interactions.
It takes time, which we don’t have, to make the kinds of changes we need. There will be people present in your life whose whole world is the tiny bit of power they have in that committee or group. They will be angry and bruised by abruptly shifting perspectives, they’ll feel disrespected by an “outsider” demanding rapid change. They’ll in short still be trapped in part of the Big Illusion that you have stepped out of, and may not understand what that illusion really has done to them.
Remember that anger is a mask for fear or pain [or both] and proceed as gently as you can. Make the issues the priority, praise individuals for their flexibility [even if they’re not quite up to full-fledged yoga just yet] and continue to push [gently] for what needs doing.
Take a step: First do the boring part. Take a look at all of the communitarian options in your vicinity. Use paper and pen so that your brain operates organically rather than digitally. Start sorting with general subjects: “food”, “shelter”, “energy”, “healthcare”, “education/ information”- all the brass tacks of living- and list all the random and differing organizations that exist in your area, tossing each into a “bin” represented by the page. Don’t spend too much time analyzing each item, just identify it and toss it where it belongs, pinning it to the page.
Then go through each “bin”, and sort out sub-headings for each of the options you’re reviewing. For instance, under “food”, you might have a food bank, a co-op, a CSA, a soup kitchen, a neighbor farmer, the Elks Club pancake breakfast, and your back garden. Sort them according to function- some are “sources”, some “distributors”. After you’ve done this for all of the groups you’ve listed, in all of the categories, put the lists aside for a day or two, and just let your brain digest the information subconsciously.
The next part is less boring, less about sorting and more about creating new connections and new community hookups. Take out your lists again, and get creative.
Is there a charitable group that is lacking something? Is there a resource available looking for a landing strip? Find ways to create the hookup.
A couple of examples:
Recently a good friend of mine acquired an old book store. She spent some time culling used books from the shelves and cleaning things up, and at the end of it all, had a ton of books that she wanted to get rid of. After having done work with kids in drug rehabs and lockdown schools, I knew that people who are incarcerated love having new stuff to read, so I did the research and finally got her in touch with the appropriate prison librarian. He told her that she had too many books for them to accommodate in the prison’s library. She mentioned how she’d wanted to give the hardcovers to the prison and send the paperbacks overseas to the troops, but couldn’t afford the postage on her shoestring entrepreneurial budget. The librarian said, “I’ll see what I can do.” and hung up. In less than 24 hours, the prisoners had raised over $200 out of their own money for the postage for those paperbacks to go to the troops.
Years ago, I belonged to the local Rotary club. Every week we’d meet for a nice catered lunch with interesting speakers, and every week, I’d see piles of good food that we’d paid for going into the trash at the end of the meeting. So I asked permission in one of the meetings to take the leftovers to the local food bank. Voila, the Rotary Club was now donating to the food bank on a weekly basis. It didn’t cost a thing [except for the gas to take the stuff over], and it led to other initiatives as well.
These are just a couple of ways things can go. Make your own.
Make sure to color outside the lines.
More later.
