Social Reform Dialogue
As I mentioned at my birthday party, I want to encourage the growth of a grassroots movement to transform our world into a compassionate community that relieves suffering, promotes justice, and spreads joy — a movement similar to yet more powerful than the union, civil rights, and women’s movements. Whoever wins in November, society will need an independent force to maximize progress, or stop repression.
However, certain habits divide organizations and undermine effectiveness. These problems include:
The desire to dominate and the willingness to submit for personal gain.
Arrogance, personal attacks, scapegoating, and harsh judgmental attitudes.
The belief that leadership involves getting followers to do what the leader wants.
To address these weaknesses, I want to engage in dialogue about the following focus question:
How can we develop a network of small teams whose members:
1) affirm fundamental, comprehensive social reform, and;
2) support each other with their self-improvement?
The Compassionate Humanity Community website offers answers to this question. Here’s a summary:
Holistic Democracy
Members affirm this mission:
Relieve suffering, promote justice, and spread joy
Replace the authoritarian Top-Down System that encourages everyone to climb social ladders and look down on and exploit those below — and submit to those above — with a democratic Bottom-Up System that empowers individuals and communities, nurtures cooperation, and holds leaders accountable
Develop a network of small teams whose members embrace this mission and provide mutual support for social service, political action, and self-improvement, especially concerning undoing or controlling oppressive dominate-and-submit impulses
However, this answer is not final. I’m sure others can offer a better one.
So I invite everyone to use the comment form to post a no-more-than-250-word response to the focus question. I’ll post responses on the Social Reform Dialogue — or offer feedback on this post.
I also welcome input and support concerning the website.
Carry it on,
Wade