Opportunity/Slotopia, BEAUTIFUL PIECE TO READ FROM BOB BANNER

[Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson]

In a message dated 3/25/00 5:12:24 PM, Fraglthndr at aol.com writes:

<<  It has always struck me as strange.... I would suggest that 
within this county alone there are over 300 of these type of people, who 
could actually and honestly join together and produce a model community.  >>

Dia,

There are many things you write about that definitely touches a cord. You say 
it is strange that we have not done so, that a harmonious community has not 
evolved. I say it is not strange at all. Look around. How many harmonious 
communities that you speak of exist. If it was easy it would be all around 
us. If cohousing was easy it would be available all around us. If 
sustainability were easy I would not be writing about it. The reason that we 
have a global economy has much to say about politics as it says about us... 
that we are preferring faster and quicker arrangements (as well as moving 
farther and farther away from our core being).
    I lived in a community that was harmonious... energetic, compassionate, 
community businesses, money flowing in... living in houses, working things 
out, etc..... but the common thread among many successful communities are 
that they are either religious or authoritarian. It becomes quite successful 
and easy when everyone surrenders to a belief system or a strong charismatic 
leader. The type of community you speak of takes much hard work. Again, if it 
was easy we would see these communities all around us... yet we see sprawl 
and malls.... Not that I'm a pessimist, but to be idealistic without being 
grounded in reality does a disservice to those who are working diligently at 
creating the foundation. You write that people <<haven't yet put that group 
energy into something ultimately real and lasting. >> That is assuming alot! 
That assumes that because you can't see things that appear like it ought to 
in your eyes that it is not "ultimately real and lasting."
    Rather than downplay the efforts of people as you state in <<there are 
many who will put dollars into one political campaign after another, 
sometimes just to watch it disappear into printing and publicity costs with 
no actual return at all,>> I suggest that we start to perceive anyone and 
everyone who is doing anything toward making a genuine difference in the 
world/local community be encouraged for whatever efforts they can muster. If 
they do small things, fine; if they do big things fine. To judge so matter of 
factly disregards the process.
    Yes, we are impatient. Yes, there is an urgency. And yes, we seem to move 
only when there is a crisis... But to highly idealize that we can create this 
"beautiful community" as you describe does not come about in a few days due 
to a variety of crises.
    During a bionner talk, Terry Molner said that there is a reason why there 
are not Mondragon-style community work places around the world... it's 
because we are addicted to individualism... Many successful communities (like 
Mondragon) became successful because they had no exits... we have many 
exits... too many exits.
    Even for those hardy folks who desire to create something different (like 
the lost valley learning center in oregon), they certainly had their intense 
struggles. They had to hire an outside "community therapist" to do some 
intensive work with the myriad of emotional problems and the outbreak of 
indivdualism that started to run amuk in their community.
    For me personally, I'd rather focus on empowering and supporting and 
encouraging people exactly where they are... and to respect that we have very 
strong resistances to change as we simultaneously talk about wanting change 
in ourselves and others.
    In fact the entire current issue of THE PERMACULTURE ACTIVIST devotes its 
pages to this issue... since they know that if these things are not dealt 
with successfully you will never have true harmony no matter what the outside 
looks like... We could create << a totally beautiful, totally off the grid, 
self sustainable, food producing habitat which includes green industries and 
organic gardens and fountains and fruit trees around a central community 
green, with people only paths and gathering places, bicycle only streets, 
respect for craftmanship in archetecture and art and music and respect for 
each other kind of place. >> and still be miserable.
    The community I lived in for three years looked really good... food coop, 
home schooling, emotional clearing, exercise, shamanic events, music, land, 
dancing, intimacy... yet there was abuse of power, mismanagement of moneys, 
outright lies....
    We have enough problems within our own marriages and varied couplings let 
alone creating a harmonious community. I'm thankful for those people who work 
on political campaigns and think of strategies for the next time... and have 
the hope to keep going. I'm also very appreciative of those <<people who 
gather together in small special groups to make cool projects happen.>> And I 
also appreciate the dreamers whose visions we can strive for and I am very 
grateful for those grounded practical pioneers who know the difference 
between fantasy and reality... and who know the kind of work it takes to move 
the dream into reality where others can touch and taste it.

Bob Banner
my 2¢
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