============================================================================ From: •••@••.••• Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 17:34:17 EST Subject: Re: [cii-hi] rn> Beyond Left & Right: a personal view To: •••@••.••• Richard: Thanks for your heartfelt vision of ways we can bridge between people of very different ideologies. I spend my life helping facilitate bridge building, and on a personal, small group and even organizational level I know it is possible. At the societal level, I too think it is possible but we would have to have a very different media and other institutions in order to not fall into the "argument culture" trap. My personal experience says that cultural creatives and traditionalists have more in common in many ways than either does with the moderns, though I am overgeneralizing I know. I also appreciate the fear and concerns shared by those who sent you messages of reminders of what horrors can occur...I believe that they are right to be concerned, though history is filled with violent, horrific stories of leaders from all idealogical leanings...right and left has not be a determiner of compassionate/non-violent/sane leadership. Would that it were otherwise and we could simply point to one way of thinking/being in the world as the one that generates the "best world" for all. Blessings as you keep stretching to meet your family member where she lives while finding ways to connect with her around your deepest values. If we are really honest, there is a lot in what the right wing says about progressives that rings true about our dysfunctionality. And there is a lot of what we are saying about theirs...G-d help us all to get past the name calling and find what is sacred and universally true before it is too late. Eryn Kalish ============================================================================
