Compassionate Seattle

I have just returned from a fabulous conference, Encountering The Other. I left the conference feeling expanded in mind and heart… through my engagement with ‘the other’ – For me, this was the first time I have had a chance to engage in such a deep dialogue with individuals whose political ideology puts them ‘right of center.’ Over this weekend, I was able to develop a relationship with several such leaders. We met with an intention and purpose to listen to one another, to truly come to understand each other’s meaning – not to try to change or convince one another. Here I was, engaging with the leader of the Tea Party movement, which had so outraged me… I felt my heart open and was awed by a current of love that seemed to spring up – I was surprised by this feeling. Perhaps it was a rechanneling of the energy released from feelings of anger, judgment, and fear I had been unconsciously storing. Through our conversations, I learned things I hadn’t known – such as why the right is so angry with Obama, the sources of their sense of betrayal (they like his ‘rhetoric’ but observe many behaviors that are not matching. For example, transparency vs. making back room deals, reining in the budget vs. now co-owing GM and Goldman Sachs, welcoming input from all sides vs. not responding to a request from Republicans to come to the White House to discuss their alternative health care bill). I realize I share their unease – but I have chosen to land on the side of trust and assuming Obama will ultimately come through. I discovered we share a concern and outrage over ‘corporate welfare.’ And we began to explore areas where we might be willing change – such as shifting our language, suspending judgments, and using a more civil tone in characterizing one another. We found our mutual similarities had been hidden by our different use of language – where I speak of ‘self organizing and trust the process’ they might say ‘free market forces.’ Where I say ‘follow the energy’ they might say ‘make optimal use of resources.’ I also appreciated the sobering impact of listening to my new friends’ concerns – rather than dismiss ‘them’ as fear mongering, I truly heard their analysis of the dangers of big government in developing a ‘political class’ that then has excessive power to wield. I feel a bit off balance with so much to reconsider and ponder. This experience was expanding, exhilarating and yet excruciating in the hard work of keeping heart and mind open. What a challenge and thrill to put my practice of Compassionate Listening (which I’ve taught for years) into practice. I am excited for more and committed more than ever to my work with the Transpartisan Alliance.


PS I am posting a short article I co-authored with Deanna Martin last year which shares some insights we gained about how to bridge this ideological divide

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Thanks, Susan. What a great experience to share, I can so appreciate how language conceals as well as reveals and often gets in the way of relating to each others. The way we frame others points of view and ascribe motives, it seems that you discovered a different perspective on their views and found them more like yourself than you thought you would. Thanks again for sharing this.
Good to see this report, thanks. I too was at the Engaging the Other conference and felt it carried a fantastic potential. And yes, I experienced that same sense of growth regarding "Tea Party" people. I have had many conservative friends, and was active in conservative politics at one time -- and I am still a registered Republican -- and but it's been a lot of years. I've been a big Obama supporter in recent times, though I'm feeling now that the political landscape is becoming very ripe for a strong transpartisan presence.

Your comments on "group process" and "circle principles" seem very apt. I strongly support the basic "transpartisan agreements" (outlined on the little card that was passed out) -- and would like to see those agreements honored throughout our national political conversation -- at all levels -- national, regional, local. It's exciting to conceive a kind of network process that could interconnect all these levels, and operate through Transpartisan principles -- as a kind of "network of circles".

Though my connections in interfaith, I came across the book "The Sacred Art of Listening", by Rev. Kay Lindahl (Trustee for the United Religions Initiative, former chair of NAIN -- North American Interfaith Network). http://www.sacredlistening.com/sal_overview.htm There are many statements regarding these core principles of group process, and this is one of my favorites.

Over the past few years, I've become convinced that there is a kind of profound magic that can arise in the circle context when these basic principles of "honoring the other" are fully recognized. I like to say something like "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name -- and my name is Love -- there I AM in the midst of you..."

Something in the universe is trying to make these connections and accelerate the energy. Thanks for this report -- I discovered it through a Twitter link posted by Joseph McCormick.
Tim Anderson said:
Susan. Very well done! Much gratitude for your time and ideas!

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