Humanize the Earth!

Silo’s Reconciliation Speach

Silo’s reconciliation speech with english subtitles: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2293791431420019900&hl=enfull text, translated to English:

Dear friends*, pilgrims and visitors to Parque Punta de Vacas. I would like to touch upon the principal nucleus of these Days which is Reconciliation as a deep spiritual experience. I know that you will forgive me if I delay our theme for a few minutes to make a short detour in order to set the context to this rather extraordinary situation that we are experiencing.

Only four times in the last forty years have we spoken publicly from here, from this desolate mountain outpost. The first time was in 1969. Today we can see a few steles engraved in different languages which remind us of what was said at that moment. There we find the synthesis of a system of thought and action that has expressed itself in different ways, in different moments and in different parts of the world. In that time, the differences between physical pain and mental suffering was spoken of. Justice and Science, completely dedicated to societal progress, were considered to be the only paths to mitigate and subside the pain in our bodies. But mental suffering, different from physical pain, cannot be made to disappear simply by the exercise of Justice and Science. The continual effort to make Science and Justice advance in human societies has dignified the best causes. Equally, the effort to overcome mental suffering made as important an effort as that applied to the overcoming of pain. Since then we have preached that these efforts to overcome pain and suffering are the most dignified efforts of human endeavor.

Together with hundreds of thousands of close friends we applied ourselves to the work of humanizing the Earth. What has it meant for us to “Humanize the Earth”? It has been to place human liberty as the highest value and non-discrimination and non-violence as the highest social practice. In our efforts to humanize the Earth we did not exclude ourselves from the obligations that we demanded from others. In fact, as a code of conduct, we imposed upon ourselves the requirement to treat others as we want to be treated. And now we have proposed to make a brief pause in the path of humanization in order to reflect upon the meaning of our existence and our actions. We have made the pilgrimage to this desolated outpost searching for the Force that nurtures our lives, searching for the Joy in doing and searching for the mental Peace necessary to advance in this altered and violent world. In these Days we are reviewing our lives, our hopes and also our failures with the aim of cleaning the mind of all falsehood and contradiction. To have the opportunity to review our aspirations and frustrations, even if it is only once in our lives, is a practice that every person who searches to advance in their personal development and their action in the world should do. These are days of inspiration and reflection. These are days of Reconciliation, sincere reconciliation with ourselves and those who have harmed us. In these painful relationships that we have endured we are not trying to forgive nor be forgiven. To forgive means that one of the parties is placed in a superior moral position and the other party humbles themselves before the one who forgives. And while it is clear that to forgive is a more advanced step than that of vengence, it is not so advanced as reconciliation.

Neither are we trying to forget the wrongs that have occurred. It is not the case of trying to falsify the memory. This is the case of trying to comprehend what happened in order to enter into the superior step of reconciliation. Nothing good is achieved, neither personally nor socially, by forgetting or forgiving. Don’t forget or forgive! The mind should remain fresh and attentive, without concealments or falsehoods. We are now considering the most important point of Reconciliation which does not admit adulterations. If we are searching for sincere reconciliation with ourselves and with those who have hurt us intensely it is because we want a profound transformation of our lives. A transformation that takes us out of resentment where clearly no one reconciles with anyone and not even with themselves. When we are able to understand that an enemy does not live in our interior but rather a being full of hopes and failures, a being in whom we can see in a short succession of images, beautiful fulfilling moments and also moments of frustration and resentment. When we are able to understand that our enemy is a being who also has lived with hopes and failures, a being who has had beautiful fulfillilng moments and also moments of frustration and resentment then we are placing a humanizing look over the skin of monstrosity.

This path towards reconciliation does not appear spontaneously, as in the same way the path towards non-violence does not appear spontaneously. Because both require great comprehension and the formation of a physical repugnance to violence.

It will not be us who judge errors, neither our own nor those of others. For that there is human retribution and justice and by the stature of the times in which their dominion is exercised. I don’t want to judge myself nor judge others….I want to deeply understand in order to clean my mind of all resentment.

To reconcile is neither to forget nor forgive, it is to acknowledge all that has happened and to propose oneself to emerge from the circle of resentment. It is to look at the situation, acknowledging one’s errors and those of others. To reconcile within oneself is to propose to not walk down the same road twice, but rather to dispose oneself to repair twice-over the wrongs we have done. But it is clear that we cannot ask those that have offended us to doubly repair the wrongs they have caused us. However, it is a good task to make them see the chain of harm that they are draging through their lives. In doing this, we reconcile with whom we have previously felt as an enemy even though we don’t achieve that the other reconciles with us. But this is now part of the destiny of their actions about which we cannot decide.

We are saying that reconciliation is not reciprocal between people and also the reconciliation with oneself does not bring about, as a consequence, that others leave their vicious circle even though it is possible to recognize the social benefits of such an individual posture.

The theme of reconciliation has been central in our Days but surely we have achieved many other advances by physically making this pilgrimage to an unknown landscape that will have awakened profound landscapes. And this will always be possible if the Purpose that has moved us to being a pilgrim is a disposition towards renovation, or better still, a disposition towards the transformation of one’s own life.

In these days we have seen the situations that we consider to be the most important in our life. If we have located such moments and taken them through reconciliation, cleaning them of the resentments that have tied us to the past, then we will have made a good pilgrimage reaching the source of renovation and transformation.

Let us not forget the short phrases that have emerged from our interior, let us not forget the occurrences that have come to us suddenly, let´s not leave aside making notes of those truths that we have been able to intimate as we have seen them briefly dance before us during our journey or because we have seen them in our nightly restorative dreams after our pilgrimage. These phrases, these occurrences and these dancing truths are inspirations that we are ready to be thankful for and are inspirations that invite us to go further on in our experiences, not only those of reconciliation but also overcoming contradictions, weaknesses and fears.

I make a vow so that the searches and encounters ignite us and motivate us very deeply.

Finishing up I should say that I recognize and want to share with all of you this situation that is similar to that which we have described in one of our Guided Experiences…..” I return to the world with my forehead and hands luminous. And so, I accept my destiny. There is the path and I, as a humble pilgrim return to my people. Filled with light, I return to the hours, to the daily routine, to the pain of humanity and to its simple joys. I, who give with my hands what I can, who receive both insults and the warmest of greetings, sing to the heart, which from the darkest abyss is reborn in the light of the yearned for Meaning.”

Silo Punta de Vacas 2007

Translation - Second Draft
10/5/07_Stgo

* In the original spanish text the greeting says “Queridas amigas, queridos amigos” which Silo explictly expressed in his intervention, first greeting all of the female friends present (queridas amigas) followed by his greeting to all male friends present (queridos amigos). The English language does not allow the translation of these important distinctions which were warmly expressed by Silo in his public presentation.

How not to be an asshole: a guide for men

Men, give a read to Pandagon’s post (via Mark Dilley). Mark suggests we read it again. And again.  I further suggest that we read it again.

empty email inboxes

Before I left work today I finished emptying my email inbox for the first time since I started work there over 5 years ago.  Tonight I did the same thing for my gmail account.  I’ve been reading David Allen’s Getting Things Done this week and it’s made quite an impression on me.  The gist of it is that our “stuff” when not organized, keeps our brain active.

For example, when reference material is mixed with personal coorespondence is mixed with impending crises is mixed with long articles I intend to read someday, I have to review all of those things all the time to make sure I’m catching the crises, and I’m never quite sure.  So my brain has to put energy into that worry and remembering instead of into doing meaningful work and being creative.

So both my email systems now have categories for “actions” that I can take, as well as stuff I want “to read” when I have the time, reminders about things “waiting for others”, etc.  This way I can review those different categories as often as I need to, but can stay on top of the actions I want to be taking on my various projects.  I still have lots more “stuff” I need to get into these various electronic systems or paper-based systems I’m also toying with, but it’s already a vast improvement.  Just having fewer messages in the inbox as I was clearing out gave me the emotional space to respond to some personal emails that have been waiting for a long time.  More to come, and easier to handle now that they’re in the “emails to send” folder.

Yay!

Ted update

Each of these could be it’s own post, but I’m just going to lump them all together, including the ones I’m not going to write about now. link

• LocalNames and WordPress plugin

It’s still crashing the blog, so no news yet. Hopefully soon.

• Future of Wiki Conferences

WikiSym looks like it’ll be in Montreal next fall. I’ve been invited to be part of the planning committee. Recent Changes Camp is also in Montreal in May. There are rumors it’ll move to coincide with WikiSym, but we’ll seen. WikiMania bids are in. Perhaps Europe. Perhaps Asia. Perhaps Alexandria, Egypt.

• Opening Space at a traditional conference

I’m still punting on this one. I’ll link to Gerard’s initial post about this when I finally reply in full.

• Inviting others to build groups in the Humanist Movement

Punting on this one for now as well.

• Air travel and terrorism

If we (the West) were really in a war with “terrorists” we would’ve already lost. Air travel is so disrupted as to make it hardly worth going. On the other hand, getting us used to putting up with crazy delays, searches and inconviences could be very useful for governments that like their populations docile. Coincidence?

• BeyondYes, large-scale decision-making

Brandon CS Sanders and have started a new business called BeyondYes. We’re working on corporate structures and stuff now, but our principles line up, and we’re looking for people interested in hiring us now. “Hire us for what?”, you ask. Well, to help your group make decisions, of course.Let’s say you’re the WikiMedia foundation, the organization that runs Wikipedia. You need to make decisions about what’s most important for the next release of the software. Maybe the way you’ve been doing it works pretty well. The community makes comments here and there, perhaps even well-organized, and the developers make recommendations based on those comments and their own inclinations and the lead developer makes the decision. Sounds pretty good. And what if that process is leaving people feeling as if they’re not part of the process? That’s where we come in. Using our process, we can help your community (including developers) make decisions that pretty much everyone agrees on.

Or let’s say you’re ICANN, the organization responsible for domains (one level above the companies actually selling domains to you, they decide if .com, .org, etc are enough or if applications for more, like .berlin, make sense). How do you satisfy all of your public and private consituencies around the world to make a decision? Right now your board takes all kinds of input and then votes on a plan. With out process, all of those consituencies can be directly involved in shaping the plan, both getting their own concerns heard and addressed, and helping to make sure the same is true for all consituencies.

Have another idea for a large-group decision that could use some help? Let me know and we can talk about what your goals are and see if there’s something we could help wtih.We are currently looking for our very first paying customer.

link

I have lots to write about after my trip to Denmark and the Netherlands. Here are topics rolling around in my head:

• LocalNames and WordPress plugin
• Future of Wiki Conferences
• Opening Space at a traditional conference
• Inviting others to build groups in the Humanist Movement
• Air travel and terrorism
• BeyondYes, large-scale decision-making

For now, I’m jetlagged like crazy and will give you only this link to a revamped website of Council 257 of the Humanist Movement

Inverted Networking - connect me with Chicago folks?

Michael writes:

I’m starting a new practice, which I’m calling Nestworking, an inverted or locally-focused sort of networking.For years, I’ve been expanding a global network of friends and colleagues. Now I want to actively request the good people I know around the world to connect me with interesting people they know or meet from Chicago. In this way, I want to turn my network back in on itself, and use it to help me find others who are active in global conversations — AND living and working here in town.

Mostly we think of extending networks, but this is a sort of local thickening, the practice of which has been new to everyone I’ve asked about it. Seems promising in a region of eight million or more people. I want to find those who live simultaneously in Chicago and in bigger global circles.

Who do you know is making good in Chicago and the world? This might be a quiet little series of connecting conversations or blossom as the next generation of GlobalChicago networking. Who do you think I should I know in Chicago?

This idea came up at dinner a couple of weeks ago and it must’ve been Michael’s idea.  Or at least he’s the first one to put it into practice that I know about.  I make the same request of you.  Who do you know in Chicago that I should know.  I pledge to follow-up with each connection with an invitation for coffee at the very least.

A todo list for our community

Interesting beginning of a list here from FootprintsintheWind.com

• Ecological clean-up and sustainability implementation.
• Climate change mitigation.
• Urban restoration.
• Improving literacy levels globally.
• Feeding, clothing, sheltering, education, and inspiring billions of humans.
• Ensuring decent care for the growing percentage (sic) of elderly in our societies.
• Providing learning and creative opportunities for all.

Doug goes on with his own list. I’m thinking of doing the same. Am more likely to do it if I publish this starter, rather than leave it in my drafts folder forever.

blogs, attention, and working in public 2

Earlier this week, I wrote in blogs, attention, and working in public about how we can drive visability to the issues, causes and actions we care about when we work on those issues in public, and link to others do the same. That post was linked to from Gift Hub: Blogging for Social Cohesion. I’m linking back to that post ot illustrate the point. We’re having a conversation on two (so far) blogs. Very cool!

I also mentioned in that post that I was to set up a blog for my friend Sharon. In the spirit of working on public, here’s the rought draft. So far all we have there is a note from me to Sharon asking her to register. We don’t have a title yet, or any content, but why not allow others to follow along as we get set up?

The other task I set for myself in that post earlier this week was to write a white paper on this whole concept of blogging to create an audience (thanks for the phrasing, Phil!). If this were a wiki, I could write a draft and you could edit it right along with me. We’d only have one working copy at a time. Doing this in a blog will be a bit different. I’ll write a draft and you can comment (or not). Then I’ll write another draft and publish that. It can still always be a work in progress, but the older versions will be a bit more visible here. So I’ll start that work in the next post.

blogs, attention, and working in public

Last night I had dinner with my friend Sharon.  She’s been my orientor in the Humanist Movement for almost 9 years.  We were talking about quite a few topics, some of which I’d like to get down here to remember myself, and also to share with my readers (both of them).

• What I’ve learned from Phil Cubeta and Jon Husband about blogging and how it lifts up visibility of a whole range of connected ideas when people are writing about them in a way that allows interlinking.
• How the Humanist Movement has the potential to have dozens, certainly, and more likely hundreds or even thousands of blogs.  Not only could these be a great way to share information with each other and our respective friends, but would also lift up visibility for all.
• How Sharon’s sister knows a ton about stem cell research and how corporations are attempting to own everything, thus leading to poorer health for all.  She needs a blog, I say.
• Sharon herself needs a blog, as she works on what her next phase in the Humanist Movement is going to be.
• When we’re “doing our work” in public, others can look over our shoulder and add value whenever they have the time, ability and inclination.  It would be very valuble for me to be able to see what Sharon is up to.

So I’m setting up a blog for Sharon and plan to write 2 versions of a white paper about the benefits of blogging, one for Sharon’s sister and one for the General Assembly of the Humanist Movement.

my tendencies

I tend to get caught up in whatever I’m involved in at the moment. I find balance quite difficult.

I had some web stuff open in tabs of my browser ready for blogging, when I got the chance. And then firefox came out with a new version and I upgraded and lost those tabs in the process. Easy come, easy go, I suppose.

My current endeavor is learning the Ruby programming language. Before August, I hadn’t written a computer program in over 12 years. Yet here I am, learning a language. And I’m having a good time with it.

I’m planning to get myself a timer of some kind, to remind me to look up at least, and preferably walk around for 5 minutes every half hour. I think a kitchen timer is too loud. Any suggestions?

In case anyone’s interested, the Ruby project I’m working on at the moment is to convert restructured text marked up word to html. And back. Restructured text is used as a way to allow people editing text to “mark up” their words with bold and italics and whatever else, without having to learn html. That’s great until you try to port that text to another system that uses a different method to mark up it’s text. The larger project my programs will fit into will use html inbetween any two markups so we can copy and move text back and forth.

I’m learning a lot! About Ruby and about myself. Good stuff.