Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Political Views in Cohousing

[Fred H Olson (fholson]

Karen Hoekstra wrote:

> These two statements caught my attention and concern me a bit:
[attributions added by Fred in case you want to look up more context]

On 31 May 2006 in a message: Re: Anecdotes for Diana Christians new book
Eris Weaver (eriswsonic.net) wrote:

>>when someone in our community says they "want more
>>diversity" in the group it doesn't mean they want Republicans,
>>white supremacists, or homophobes

On 1 Jun 2006 in a message: Re: Anecdotes for Diana Christians new book
David Heimann (heimannworld.std.com) wrote:

>>if there's a Republican in our community,
>>they're not being very obvious about it.

(Karen wrote:)
> I'm not sure (although I know there are those who will disagree with me)
> that republicans should be grouped in the same category as white
> supremacists and homophobes.and how exactly does one become an "obvious"
> republican, other than perhaps posting signs in their year supporting
> republican political candidates? If there was a republican in your
> community, would you be concerned?

I don't think Eris was really "grouping" them together but citing them as
examples of folks that don't seem to be found in the cohousing movement as
we know it. And certainly not equating them.

Note that I said "don't seem to be found" - in part it is probably our
perceptions.  I have long observed a tendency of most people with points
of view that are clearly not widely held in a certain context (e.g. in a
certain group) to not express those views very prominently
("obviously").  That is they don't tend to bring up those views in
discussion.  It's just easier to be quiet.  There may be less identifiable
evidence that those views are held by some but they just dont get
expressed in this context.

Example.  In my inner city racially mixed neighborhood (I don't live in
cohousing) the dominant political tendency is quite liberal, progressive,
etc.  (My state representative - Kieth Ellison - is a progressive, African
American, Muslim Democrat and candidate for Congress - and has a good
chance of winning.) Democrats dominate, Green Party has some sway but
Republicans get some votes ( I dont recall numbers but would guess in my
precinct Republican candidates get 10-20%) But it is seldom that a
Republican opinion is expressed at meetings, in community papers or by
people I have contact with. Expressed another way, I can't think of any
Republicans in my neighborhood but I know there must be some.  (I take it
back - there is a fellow a block up that I talked to once - but it's been
a while.)

There is another tendency my example exemplifies.  There is a big tendency
for people to associate with people with similar views (and other
similarities).  People with "conservative" (what ever that means) views,
don't choose to live in my neighborhood.

Similarly since the people involved in the cohousing movement as we know
it tend to be politically liberal, more conservative people probably are
less like to get involved with us.

For all I know there is an entirely separate conservative cohousing-like
movement that I know nothing about.  If so, they probably use different
terms, and names but are still similar.  Rob's in-flight conversation
clearly indicates there is interest.

Be careful about perceptions, it's easy to draw wrong conclusions.
Be careful about making statements that assume everyone shares the
dominant point of view.

(Karen also wrote:)
>I don't want to spark a right vs. left debate, but please remember that
>ones political opinions are not always a dead give-away of their values
> or beliefs, nor should they be the basis of judgment of that person.

Shifting to my role as list manager, I would welcome a
"right vs. left debate" of  Political Views in Cohousing ...
AS LONG AS IT IS civil, thoughtful and preferably cites some actual
experience or examples and stays reasonably connected to cohousing.

If anyone would like to post anonymously, I'd be happy to post your
message for you after removing any identifing information.
Just email me privately.

Fred

-- 
Fred H. Olson  Minneapolis,MN 55411  USA        (near north Mpls)
Communications for Justice - My new listserv org.       UU, Linux
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fholson at cohousing.org   612-588-9532   (7am-10pm Central time)