Respect and Dignity - from Martin Thomas

I wrote a blog post in November on "Respect and Dignity for All", following a brilliant talk by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, at the RSA. What I took as his biggest idea was that, whilst we talk about a proper distribution of wealth, as we aim to eradicate poverty, we should really aim for "a proper distribution of dignity".

Martin Thomas, a friend and colleague in the Change Leaders, turned the idea into a short poem. here it is:

A most important aspect of the human balance sheet

(that most of us acknowledge but so few of us keep)

is that we each should have the right to our own points of view,

whether they be held by most, or only me, or you.

Respecting those divergent views is harder than it seems:

we humans act as if hard-wired to protect our own group’s dreams.

Respect for others means accepting all without a fuss,

recognising (for all time) they may be more “right” than us.

Giving everyone that chance is a key to self-respect,

without which we will lead the world with egos to regret.

True respect for others is that most illusive key

to universal ethics, and collective dignity.

I’m not just arguing for politics’ democracy,

For real liberation: let everyone’s thoughts be free!

Martin went on to comment on "free thinking", and related this to apostasy (the renunciation of one's previous religious beliefs). He notes that apostasy is viewed much more respectfully in non-Abrahamic religions - historically in many "western" faiths, free-thinking (effectively apostasy) has been deeply frowned upon or even persecuted.

In effect, Martin says, the amount of respect that a movement has for individuals' freedom of thought is inversely related to the gravity it attaches to apostasy. And he goes on to suggest that the practice of real respect for others (as denoted by the acceptance of free-thinking beyond religious dogma) is low in all of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, despite what is professed.

Food for thought? Agreements? Disagreements? Comments ......

Posted via web from mick's posterous

Seasons Greetings - and thoughts on twitter, Glastonbury, music and all that

Earlier this year, a group of people whose common interest was the Glastonbury Festival decided to meet the day the Festival started, last June. I don't think anyone had actually met before. It all started with casual chat on twitter about who had tickets, and what people wanted to see. In any event, thanks to @glastowatch, and a website called #twitterbury, about 75 people met at Brother's Bar, Jazz World. The event was hash tagged #twisto.

People from all walks of life (and ages) met. Cider was consumed, pictures were taken, and a good time was had by all. So much so that a small movement started - #twisto in London a couple of times, and then #twistosw (which revolved around a gig by The Bluetones in Taunton on December 10th). Oh, I should also add that the the Chicken Lady came with a mascot - a plastic chicken from China now called gregorypeck - who has featured on the web, twitter and even on t-shirts. He clearly has a great career ahead of him ...

And now, as 2010 approaches, other #twistos are being planned ... with the big event of course being at Glastonbury again.

I did blog about twitter earlier in the year - how people use it, why the idea will stick around. But why blog again? There are a few points that the #twisto experience underlines:

• First, the power of self-organization. An idea was born, people gravitated towards it, various folks stepped in to do things - and it just happened. It would not have happened without @glastowatch and a few others, but everyone got involved. No one made money, but all had fun. The rules were very simple, and evolved through discussion - even the hash tags were "voted on".
• Second, the power of music. That is what broke through all of the barriers - interests, ages, work etc etc. Not everyone likes the same music (just witness the good humoured debate raging as to whether to watch U2 on the Pyramid Stage in 2010 at Glastonbury - as many are for as are against;-). But everyone likes some kind of music. And, importantly, Glastonbury is one of the more eclectic Festivals, so it was a fertile base-camp for the whole adventure.
• Third, new technology. Would any of this been possible without social networks? I doubt it. I've been online for longer than I care to remember, from the good old days before bulletin boards - and certainly before mobile phones. But now we are all connected all of the time. I've been glancing through the ways people connect - via the web, iPhone, Blackberry, Tweetdeck, Mac, PC, Linux etc - at any time, from anywhere. And we get to choose - no-one tells anyone when or how to connect. And you can ignore what you like.
• Fourth, old-fashioned respect. On twitter, almost everyone is respectful of others. Some people are quite serious, some like to have a collective laugh. Questions are asked, help given, links suggested. Friendships form, debates are had. Just witness the impact of twitter lists, and directories such as Tweetdeck's, where common interests abound. The group is self policing - and no-one wants to get ejected (remember the old "kick" command in IRC?). But I think it is more than the fear of rejection - it is the desire to belong.

You've probably read these thoughts before, but as a pre-Christmas reflection I think that #twisto is a brilliant example which illustrates these ideas in action.

Anyway, to continue to carry the #twisto banner, let me just wish everyone Seasons' Greetings, and the very best for 2010.

Posted via web from mick's posterous

Respect - Ben Franklin

"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity."

Benjamin Franklin

Posted via web from mick's posterous

November LeaderValues newsletter ...

Just published this month's edition at November Newsletter .

This issue talks about accountability and respect - and features a biography of John Stuart Mill, not because he led huge teams or great enterprise, but because he led a revolution in our ideas about social justice.

Dignity & Respect for all

I have just been asked to write an end of year thought for TMS, and would like to share my hope for 2010 towards dignity and respect for all.

As I write this, I have been listening to Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, talk at the Royal Society of Arts about the role of Faith in Social Development. Now, I know the world of Social Development, having been involved in that for many years through activities in Save the Children, both at grass roots and institutional levels. And I am absolutely not a religious person!

Still, the Archbishop's words struck a real cord. We talk about a proper distribution of wealth, as we toil to eradicate poverty. But he suggested "A proper distribution of dignity" - a much bigger idea.

John W. Gardner said that "If you have respect for people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than they are". In other words, dignity is what others want, not what you want to offer. And you have to respect where they are to be able to help. So, they may be poor, or Christian, or Muslim, or Buddhist, or even rich - but they are what they are. Truly offering respect is a basic foundation for the release of human potential.

Global bodies deal well with balance sheets, but rarely deal with ethics. I'd offer that ethics is not about who is right and who is wrong - but what is the right thing to do. An important aspect of the human balance sheet is that we all should have the right to a point of view. Giving everyone that chance is a key to self-respect, to universal ethics, and to the achievement of dignity. I am not just arguing for democracy in a political sense, but I am arguing for the liberation of free thought.

We also need to challenge the idea that collective growth is the "prime directive" for the human race. We must help each and every one of us to be creative in our own way. That is really the prime human directive - that every individual grows.

So, that is my hope. Respect and dignity for all.