As an activist, whom is part of a community of activists, I've found that as much as people desire to see social change, they don’t know how to go about reaching that change. Thus, even as we do progressive work, it is within the box of convention.
I once led a workshop where I drew the outline of a cruise boat, and asked the participants to explain how a cruise ship is comparable to systems of oppression. The bottom level is where the workers are, making a poor wage, lesser food quality, less access to sunlight; the mid level has some increased quality, and the customers have better amenities and access and; on the deck level is the where the wealthiest of customers are, have ongoing VIP status and an accompanied elitist mentality.
The workshop when went well; the group was able to make the connection and decided that such a structure was not ideal and I was pleased with the discussion until I posed the question, “If you could redesign the boat, what would it look like?” An eerie silence fell over the room – no one could answer yet a suggestion.
It was at that moment I realized just how sadly we'have lost our ability to imagine. How can we expect to create change when we've lost our ability to form it in our minds? What’s happened in the movement where such is that we've lost our creativity and thus in many respects, lost ourselves?
When we examine the non-profit structure for example, it is very difficult to consider impact when the third sector’s survival system is currently dependent upon the very systems for which the existence of the third sector is intended to change. An organization that works to end poverty (or rather assuage it), receives its funding from foundations that are run by wealthy individuals that have benefited from the ‘have and have-not’ paradigm. Therefore in order to challenge poverty, poverty must exist so the organization can exist.
How then can we imagine the existence of such an organization, whilst imaging the non-existence of the social problem? It is a cyclic domino effect we rarely talk about inter-personally nor confront internally.
We've operated under a system of convention, the very system we live to counter and transform. Because we've lost our ability to imagine anew, the thought of change is difficult even to us change makers, because without the ability to shape things in our minds, there is chaos ( a concept which both highlights and pays homage to the phrase “figments of our imagination” ). It is a fear of that internal and externally projected chaos that contributes to our resistance to confronting how systemic structures have created barriers to fostering transformation on a social scale – the other barrier is ourselves, for we are whom perpetuate this trend.
I once led a workshop where I drew the outline of a cruise boat, and asked the participants to explain how a cruise ship is comparable to systems of oppression. The bottom level is where the workers are, making a poor wage, lesser food quality, less access to sunlight; the mid level has some increased quality, and the customers have better amenities and access and; on the deck level is the where the wealthiest of customers are, have ongoing VIP status and an accompanied elitist mentality.
The workshop when went well; the group was able to make the connection and decided that such a structure was not ideal and I was pleased with the discussion until I posed the question, “If you could redesign the boat, what would it look like?” An eerie silence fell over the room – no one could answer yet a suggestion.
It was at that moment I realized just how sadly we'have lost our ability to imagine. How can we expect to create change when we've lost our ability to form it in our minds? What’s happened in the movement where such is that we've lost our creativity and thus in many respects, lost ourselves?
When we examine the non-profit structure for example, it is very difficult to consider impact when the third sector’s survival system is currently dependent upon the very systems for which the existence of the third sector is intended to change. An organization that works to end poverty (or rather assuage it), receives its funding from foundations that are run by wealthy individuals that have benefited from the ‘have and have-not’ paradigm. Therefore in order to challenge poverty, poverty must exist so the organization can exist.
How then can we imagine the existence of such an organization, whilst imaging the non-existence of the social problem? It is a cyclic domino effect we rarely talk about inter-personally nor confront internally.
We've operated under a system of convention, the very system we live to counter and transform. Because we've lost our ability to imagine anew, the thought of change is difficult even to us change makers, because without the ability to shape things in our minds, there is chaos ( a concept which both highlights and pays homage to the phrase “figments of our imagination” ). It is a fear of that internal and externally projected chaos that contributes to our resistance to confronting how systemic structures have created barriers to fostering transformation on a social scale – the other barrier is ourselves, for we are whom perpetuate this trend.
The sense of venturing into the unknown becomes equated to making a substantial sacrifice – we see it as a threat to our livelihood and thus as a threat to all we have to come to know and live by. We don’t ask ourselves enough however is if the structures with which we live by (social, economic, gender-based etc) is really how we want to live? Or, are we living this way because we can’t think of anything else? Have we become so accustomed to convention that we even think of change through conventional means?
We must first look within - beyond thinking outside the box, we must have the will to live to be outside the box. In order for change to be realized, we must re-write our vision for change. It may take everything in our simple and daily ways of life, and that area of unknown may be too scary for some, but all the while necessary
We must first look within - beyond thinking outside the box, we must have the will to live to be outside the box. In order for change to be realized, we must re-write our vision for change. It may take everything in our simple and daily ways of life, and that area of unknown may be too scary for some, but all the while necessary
Thus the transformation must begin within us first. It is then and only then, can we have tangible progress, in everything from a cultural shift in an organization to growth in sustainable community development. As the proverbial saying goes, “it starts with you”, but according to convention, we tend to wait for someone other than us to be the first. Therefore, that too must change; we all, at once must imagine together. Then, the discussions can begin to design and build change, freeing us from ourselves.
Imagine that.
Imagine that.
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