Rita Lucey
-- On Fri, Aug 3, 2012 at 8:02 PM, Jim Belcher <jimbelcher350@me.com> wrote:
--re: cultural competitionfrom a biological perspective,Darwin didn't say "survival of the fittest" and he did not imply that competition was the predominant operating principle. it is a misinterpretation. what he did observe was more like survival of those that "fit best." when we observe natural systems there is some competition, yes -- but there is much much much more cooperation, collaboration, contribution from one species to another than competition. its called symbiosis and commensalism, etc. it is this cooperation that makes our natural systems self-sustaining and resilient. we have everything to learn from studying natural systems -- from returning to our natural roots.jim
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver
On Aug 3, 2012, at 10:42 AM, Aileen Acevedo wrote:Jim and Penny, thank you for the compliment. ;o)
I agree with Jim in the possibility that Ubuntu describes "a culture working together in harmony with the natural operating system to make a world that works for everyone, every species with no one and nothing left out." In describing "what possibility are you here to create?", in other words what are you here to contribute to work toward that possibility; for me, it's to interact daily with every living thing coming from that perspective so that others may be moved to do the same. Also, to inculcate that in the children I work with and hopefully make it the norm.
Now, I do believe empathy and cooperation is natural, innately built into our nature for our survival; however, Penny's insight about competition possibly being natural begs the question, is competition ALSO natural and necessary for survival? I still think it is cultural, although in nature, outside of humans, competition is obvious and necessary as in survival of the fittest. Not sure if that should apply to us though. I like what Richard said, "How we cease the cancerous growth of separation is to realize, and come to act upon this realization, that we are all one. Your well-being isn't separate from my well-being" I've heard people apply the "survival of the fittest" concept in various social situations, but are we erroneously and to our detriment doing that? Like Richard stated, his group is "created from a cultural mindset of separateness and has this error built into it."
"Can we come together, collaborate and create and commit to a truly heart-felt possibility greater than our own self interests?" I believe the answer to this is yes because ultimately for me that is the purpose of life, but I also think it depends on where your gifts and passions are to reach that goal so that it effects who you "collaborate and create" with.
Anywho, thanks once again everyone for a great conversation – it's these interactions that propel us forward to achieving a better world.
:o) Aileen
On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 1:15 PM, Richard G. Powell <richardgpowell@gmail.com> wrote:When I run the group I work I definitely see a positive difference in how people interact afterward... Granted the nature of the facility is short-term therefore the "real work" can't be done but simply getting that idea out there into the paradigm is significant. There is a fundamental flaw in this group, however. This group, designed to show people the importance of an underlining unity, was also created from a cultural mindset of separateness and has this error built into it. Henri Tajfel, well-known social psychologist, found in his minimal group experiments that all you need to have in order to create competition and rivalry is the mere splitting of one whole into two separate groups... This group I run at work is great in that it shows how much easier life could be if we learned to work together yet it still has the inherent flaw of being built upon a dynamic of two separate teams: the breeding ground for rivalry.
Jim, one of the (many) things I love about you is your ability to ask very pertinent heart-felt questions which many people avoid or aren't even aware of. They provoke: thought, heart ingenuity, soul searching... all in order to know a solution. Thank you for this. For me personally, how we cease the cancerous growth of separation is to realize, and come to act upon this realization, that we are all one. Your well-being isn't separate from my well-being, which isn't separate from Mitt Romney's well-being, which isn't separate from the well-being of the homeless person under the bridge who I don't even know... How do we do that? My personal approach is to see the Creator in the eyes of everyone I meet, myself included. How could I exclude anyone knowing this?
so much love for all of you,
richard
On 08/01/2012 09:02 AM, Penny Villegas wrote:
On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 3:00 AM, jim belcher <jimbelcher350@me.com> wrote:
Thank you penny, aileen and Richard. It's good to hear your voice aileen; I miss you and your brilliant perspective. I don't think I know Richard, but I remember Aileen's great smile.
To me, Umbutu describes a possibility. A possibility of a culture working together in harmony with the natural operating system to make a world that works for everyone, every species with no one and nothing left out.
I am also reminded of the Margaret Mead phrase about the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world. What possibility are we (PBJFl) committed to? I am committed to the possibility of knowing new people and creating positive energy. Now I ask Jim to answer his questions. What possibility are you here to create?
In other words, can we come together, collaborate and create and commit to a truly heart-felt possibility greater than our own self interests? That's why we're here instead of sunning on the beach or shopping at the mall. What would that possibility be? Jim, you should answer this one.
Mead was talking, I believe, about bold and courageous and whole-hearted commitment.Will you/we know it when we see it?Peace, blessings, (attempting answers to important questions): Penny
Thanks to all three of you for this thought provoking series of ideas. (Don't you sleep?) It made me think about raising my five children in Colombia. They were very competitive! It's called sibling rivalry. Did we the parents create that? Or the natural desire to have the parent's attention? Or could it be an animal instinct? I've seen it in litters of puppies and pigs.Was it/is it cultural? When I read about the African story and Ubuntu I thought that US culture is inherently competitive but then so is Colombian and Hispanic.So there is a lot to think about here and what is as important or more, how can we stop this and simply join hands. Thanks for so much to think about.Namaste! Penny
On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 1:12 AM, Richard G. Powell <richardgpowell@gmail.com> wrote:
So beautiful Jim, thank you for sharing! I knew there was a reason why I use Ubuntu instead of windoze ;-)
Reminds me deeply of a group I do at work that I always find fascinating. The group is simple: make a line on the floor creating two sides of the room. The chairs line the group room and you belong to whichever side you happen to be on. One person comes up from each side with the simple description, "The goal is to get the other person to come over to your side". (No touching is allowed) Immediately bribery and manipulation ensue! You should come over here because of x, y and z, or our side is better, etc. Sometimes it takes up to 30 or 40 minutes until someone realizes that the goal is for both people to step across simultaneously so that both sides win... Its amazing how deeply ingrained our competition mentality is yet how profound it hits people when they realize how much easier everything could be if we always considered "how can we all win?" Sometimes in the group they find the solution immediately and then spend the next 20 minutes debating whether or not they can trust the other person to step across as well. So simple yet so revealing...www.richardglenpowell.com
On 07/30/2012 09:32 PM, jim belcher wrote:
To me this is why I participate in PBJ:
"An anthropologist suggested the following game to a group of children in a tribe in Africa: He placed a basket full of fresh fruits under a tree. He then said that whoever reached the basket first in a race would be the winner of all the fruits.
As he gave the signal to begin the race, the whole group held hands, ran bonded together and then sat and enjoyed the prize together.
When he asked why they had done such thing, when he had offered the possibility to one to be the ultimate winner.
They replied: " UBUNTU"-- how could one of us be happy (feel happiness) while the rest are in despair, unhappy?
UBUNTU in the Xhosa culture means: "I am, because we are."
This is the possibility I see.
jim
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