Re: Peace is a Co-housing issue
From: crisdenrob (crisdenrobaol.com)
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:22:14 -0800 (PST)
All---

Although I am not currently in cohousing, I feel that cohousing is an attempt 
to build and find community in a relatively heartless society that uses 
competition, violence and "one-upmanship" as its basic components.? Therefore, 
I find the questions of peace, patriotism and war to be of keen interest for 
myself, and I would like to think that cohousers would have similar sentiments.

In fact, I was delighted to see a co-housing project carry a sign during the 
"Troops?Out Now" March?in Chicago (October 27).? No one in the march said that 
the co-housing group could not be there---why would a discussion of the current 
war be excluded from the listserv? ?The person who raised the use of the flag 
was asking a serious question regarding the image and role of cohousing 
communities as it pertains to war.??This is a time when all?civic-minded groups 
and individuals should speak up to end this war.? As Martin Luther King said, 
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal".?

Questions of war and peace are as important as what type of refrigerator is 
best for the common house,?or?how to pay for common meals.? Cohousing is 
leading the way?for people living together more cooperatively and?for people 
resolving conflicts without the usual lawsuits/feuds/physical altercations.? 
Through this process of community and commonality, we know that there are 
better solutions than war.??Perhaps?cohousing members could think about 
submitting?articles in theoretical journals and peace publications on the 
research/personal experiences of conflict resolution solutions that are offered 
in cohousing.? Many people want peace, but they feel that humans are?incapable 
of surrmounting "evil human nature" without the threat/use of war.??

Also,?would more cohousing communities undercut the rampid foreclosures being 
experienced now by many people?? Cohousing has so many social and egalitarian 
aspects and?advantages for the larger society as a whole---that it would be 
terrific for cohousing participants to intervene in the?debates/discussions of 
our time.? ?

For me, I view cohousing communities as being those communities?which 
are?actualizing the?principles of cooperation,?environmentalism, and peace.

Cris Mann, St. Louis

???

?




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