Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus and ideology

[Robyn Williams (pov]

> Is sustainability part of your mission
> statement or other expressed values?

Well spotted Sharon.
This is why having clear, agreed and visible statements of
purpose/mission/vision/intention/values etc is so important.

Another point on making decisions, particularly solving problems:
I observe, generally, that is in politics, at work and in my community, the
tendency where a singular solution to a problem becomes the issue.  In this
example, the community
becomes divided about which play-set.  The play-set isn't the issue which
would appear to be 'something that children can play on that suits certain
criteria'.  The possible solutions are examined according to the criteria,
which includes the mission/values of the community.

Over and over, and most painfully within my community, I witness arguments
that rise from an assumption that if you ain't with me, then yer agin' me.
I despair when I see the energy we expend on bickering about one solution
while a universe of alternative outcomes is ignored.  As Sharon said,
"My first reaction is that the swing set decision (as presented) is reduced
to too few factors. If the options have been fully explored there will be
more than two options or variables for the decision."

A major realisation that I had earlier this year (it now seems bloody
obvious) which has helped me to come to terms with this phenomenon is that
we, the members of my community, are very competitive.  Maybe that's not the
best word, but we tend, in a variety of combinations, to be wilful,
determined, idealistic, bold, stubborn, persistent, creative, intelligent,
empowered, plus other characteristics that are required to accomplish the
project.  In many ways we mirror the very aspects of our
society that we reject.  Not at all surprising when you consider it.  The
difference is that we aspire to co-operate at an intimate level and we
bungle our way towards doing this effectively.

While I still, in my smallness, find myself fuming about behaviour (my own
included), I've become
more accepting and loving about our frailties rather than just tolerant.
I admire how we blindly nudge against the boundaries of our wisdom
with the collective belief that there is a gate to greater understanding.

Robyn Williams
pov [at] iinet.net.au
Pinakarri Community
Fremantle, Western Australia
www.pinakarri.org.au


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