Tonight I gave my third and final forum to community participants on issues confronting the nation in this election. We had a great time again tonight, and I have to admit…if given an opportunity to inquire, learn and imagine, humans are amazin.
Little town of about 900-1100, surrounded by big Iowa farms, each week, 12-13 people, different group each week. I’d direct an information flow around the social structure and nature of an issue, all the while querying with them with an open floor to questions. Republicans mainly, Democrats and Independents. First week we covered the financial crisis, second week we covered oil/gasoline and tonight we looked at global warming.
Each time, I started by pushing the group to look at the fundamental nature of human interaction that gives rise to a problem of the sort we investigated. What is greed, really, other than a social judgment of people who have more than I do? What is a gas guzzler besides the other person’s car? What is energy waste but my neighbor’s Christmas display…never mine. Why do human’s look for blame rather than push for comprehension? Why do we so quickly misinterpret explanation of a social phenomenon as justification instead of explanation? Why is change so difficult for humans, especially change of deeply held beliefs and long habituated patterns?
We looked at the mind, at the nature of logic and rules of evidence and discovery. We looked at the human proclivity to believe what we want when we want, and how education backed by family and religion fosters us to be believers more than skeptics. We looked at science, and the mechanisms of the scientific method. We looked at theory, versus hypotheses and facts. We kept coming back to how small a percentage of humanity we are, and how much we use, consume, produce, expect relative to the rest of the world. We looked at how we don’t want to know the social costs of any of our behaviors…we just want to do what we want when we want.
We laughed, giggled and made hilarious side comments. People mainly in their 50’s 60’s, 70’s with a few 80s and a few younger. Many were farmers, and many were not.
The kicker? I can’t do any more this week or next because work will take me out of the area for a bit. Their desire? “Let’s do more of these after the elections. I am learning a lot and this is fun!”
We talked politics without the venom. We talked politics without the illogic. We talked politics without reducing it to the games of children with “I know you are but what am I?” We talked politics going after everyone of our sacred cows of social disorganization…”I should be free to drive a gas guzzling SUV if I want!”
We didn't talk about Obama or McCain, Republicans or Democrats. We didn't ask who people supported or allow people to speak to who they supported. We simply talked about power, how it organizes, moves and affects...
I was invited to address several other groups on topics they choose, the different folks so enjoyed the presentation…
And they laughed, got serious, had fun…and amazingly...want to do more regardless of whether they get to vote using the new knowledge they might pick-up.
When given an opportunity to fully, deeply inquire, learn and imagine, humans are simply amazin. 
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KnittinKitten
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Oct 23 @ 11:30PM
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Sounds like it was very satisfying. I get that feeling whenever we have one of our "Current Events Club Meetings" here at The Villages...It stimulates the mind and, who knows, maybe we'll find some grass roots things to do....
I know I'd find it a privilege to sit in on any meeting you would conduct....
Fondly,
KK
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SunBabe
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Oct 24 @ 1:15AM
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I know I'd find it a privilege to sit in on any meeting you would conduct....
Me too!
When I was going to college in my 40's, I'd often witness an "awakening" by other "mature students" who hadn't ever truly thought or observed much of anything outside their lifetime self-created traditional "box". It was always amazing to watch them blossom and develop the confidence to apply their "hidden wisdom" to contemporary situations. Our original casual political discussion group turned into an extremely popular "official" campus activity (very international, multi-cultural, and multi-generational, too). It was refreshing to be able to learn and share facts and points of view as well as discuss issues without all the partisan bickering.
Your tag line "community" is what it's all about. What a cool feeling it must be to see your "baby" grow...and be the catalyst leading people to think...some maybe for the first time. 
Hurry back. Your community needs -- and wants -- you! 
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Peabianjay
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Oct 29 @ 11:53PM
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No doubt! I too, would love to be your student...
Oh, wait....I suppose I am, now.
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