HUMOV1003 Community and Bush Environments

Seminar six

Large human movements spring from individual human initiatives. If you feel that you cannot have much of an effect, the next person may also become discouraged and a great opportunity will have been lost. On the other hand, each of us can inspire others simply by working to develop our own altruistic motivation

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Community

• Have you experienced real community?

• Palmer suggests that most experiences of community are actually only pseudo-community?

Parker Palmer on real C.

The concept of community has been distorted - most references to community are more realistically - Pseudocommunity – where people hate conflicts

Parker Palmer on real C.

By contrast real community is only reached through hard work … at a great cost.

Parker Palmer on real C.

To be connected – you have to look at your heart – otherwise you will not be able to respond to criticism – you will always be defending. The heart needs to be a place of peace. (need to know what you believe and be OK with that - worldviews?)

Parker Palmer on real C.

Real community involves: taking social risks, being vulnerable, being able to forgive, soft individualism, working from a position of weakness, taking responsibility for our own actions.

Why is community important in OEE?

Is community that important?

Rousseau (1991) - we all experience an ontological loneliness

This brings discomfort, loneliness, anguish.

Our distinctively human way of overcoming solitude is to “enter into unity with, share the existence of, other beings through knowing and loving them” (p35)

Is community that important?

What are the consequences of non-community?

The “true” meaning of community (according to Peck 1990)

Concept of community is used far too loosely

Community is like a gem - multi-faceted, inherently mysterious, miraculous, unfathomable

1. Inclusivity

• Most groups are exclusive cliques that work hard to keep people out.

• It is much easier to exclude rather than include.

• Communities seek to be inclusive

• Inclusivity extends the groups

2. Commitment

• Must be a willingness to co-exist - and make it work

• Requires an appreciation of differences.

3. Consensus

• Community avoids the use of voting to resolve differences - as in a democracy

• Consensus values individual difference - which is not congruent with “majority rules”.

• Consensus is when all agree that they have come to the best decision for the group at that time, given all the circumstances.

4. Realism

• Diversity and difference are more likely to produce realistic solutions to problems

• The multiple points of view and freedom of expression usually gives a better understanding of the situation

• Humility is a key ingredient because you begin to appreciate other people’s gifts and recognise your own limitations

5. Contemplation

• Community is self examining, self-critical, self aware

• Contemplation is the key to insight

• You don’t reach community and sit back and relax

6. A safe place

• Acceptance and freedom to be yourself is a critical part of community

• Community is healing - even though that is not the focus of community - more a by product

7. Fight gracefully

• there are no sides, factions - cliques have been dropped

• Community is a place where conflict can be resolved without bloodshed

• Conflict resolution is a product more than a pre-requisite to community

8. A group of leaders

• Total decentralisation of authority

• Not leaderless - leader-full

• Flow of leadership

Community concepts

Community is essentially about being a part of a group where: People can be themselves without fear of being judged or condemned by others

People are committed to work together and although conflicts occur they are resolved without big dramas.

Forgiveness runs freely.

People’s strengths are respected and utilised for the good of the group. People’s weaknesses are shared, understood, and accepted.

You feel safe to try (and possibly fail) new things.

People are welcome to participate in the group - it is not just a little club for people who feel the same way.

Community in OE

• How realistic is it to expect us to experience/promote community in our OE program?

• What are the constraints to establishing true community - what makes it hard for OE?

• Should community even be something that we strive for in OE programs?