[Seattle-editorial] FI: Let's Talk America comes to Seattle - join me

[sheri at speakeasy.org]

hi
i think this is important stuff.  because it gets to the heart of what it is we are claiming we want to create - public spaces for dialogue and local decision-making.  it starts with seeds like this.  it would be great to put up a feature about this project.  vicky robin for those of you who don't know her cowrote your money or your life a decade or so ago and was a key national player in the early days of voluntary simplicity and more :)

sheri

-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Robin [mailto:vmrr at earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 03:54 PM
To: 'mwood'
Subject: Let's Talk America comes to Seattle - join me

Dear Seattle friends,

Let's Talk America - a project to help thousands of people organize and host conversations about democracy, America and the values we all hold dear (freedom and justice, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness). - is now launching around the country.  As the country polarizes in this election year, LTA will be a space for inquiry among people with divergent views into the deeper issues in our county today.  You can engage without having to agree, do anything different... or bite your tongue.  Using the Conversation Cafe method makes conversations safe and fosters surpising insights and discoveries.



And guess what?  I am hosting a series of 3 Let's Talk America conversations at the Grateful Bread in May.  Some of you may remember that the GB is where the CCs were born, and LTA is like an offspring of that seed that's grown to international proportions.  I am eager to engage in these questions with you.  

blessings,

vicki



Space is limited and you have to sign up at:

http://connect.letstalkamerica.org/meetings/index.asp



The following 3 sets of questions will be what we talk about in the 3 successive CCs.  Best to come to all 3, fine to come to only one or two.



The personal is political, the political is personal

 

We all have a story about our relationship with America, democracy, freedom, politics and power.  Whether we are "made in America" or came here, the myths of this continent and the history of our times are woven into our personal stories.  Once we know one another as people, it is more natural to listen to one another's ideas, whether we agree or not.  

 

.Tell me the story of a time when you had a conversation with someone who was substantially different from you and the exchange taught you something about yourself and about the other person? What was that like for you? What did you bring to the exchange and what did the other person bring?

 

. Tell me about a particular time when you recognized a problem in your community and responded with some kind of action?  What did you do? What was that like for you? Who else was involved? ? How do you feel about it now?

 

. Tell me about a time when you felt empowered as a citizen?  What made this possible? How do you feel about it now?

 

What is America?

 

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written by people - America was invented, and we are still inventing it.  Its meaning and course are shaped by our choices to an extraordinary degree compared to most cultures and countries with much longer histories.  

 

. What do you cherish about America, and being an American? 

 

. During your middle school years (ages 11-14), [or when you were young] what did you understand about 

   being an American?

  

. What do you understand about being an American now?

 

. What does America - its hope and promise - mean to you?

 

Power and politics - can we do it better?

 

Winners take all.  Polarization.  Stalemate in so many areas where no one is getting what s/he wants. Voting is down.  Why?  Do we feel powerless so conclude, "Democracy, why bother?"  Are we all so individualistic that we think "Democracy, what's it to me?"  What changes - in ourselves or in our system - would need to happen for us to feel like citizens in a democracy? (ignore funky formatting)



  a.. In theory, opposing views in a democratic system lead to better decisions - ones everyone can live with - what impact does it have on you to live with decisions not of your choosing?  What issue close to your heart is not expressed in the decisions of our leaders? Could we do democracy better? 
  b.. When have you been part of a group with diverse opinions - family, workplace, church - and made a decision that worked for everyone over time?  What helped your group make such a wise decision?
  c.. What is a belief or value you hold that's not characterized by the party or political group you're most aligned with?
  d.. What one change in our political system could we make to improve our  democracy? How might you contribute to that change
-------------------------------------------
Vicki Robin
New Road Map Foundation
P.O. Box 15981
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 527-0437
www.LetsTalkAmerica.org
www.YourMoneyorYourLife.org 
www.ConversationCafe.org 
www.SimplicityForum.org 
www.NewRoadMap.org 

Even if our own mouths were as
full of song as the sea,
And our lips as full of praise as 
the breaths of Heaven,
Our eyes as bright as the sun,
Our hands as outstretched as 
the eagles of the sky,
And our feet as swift as gazelles,
We could not thank You enough.
-- Jewish prayer