Is privilege a bad thing?

On CPAN's Book TV, Martha Nussbaum told an interesting story about her son-in-law's immigration process experience.  Her story about that went something like this:

He is from Germany. And he had a long rap (criminal record) sheet accumulated from his "civil defiance" of the East German government. When he went to apply  to be an immigrant--he was never asked about his "criminal" record. The only question was whether he was legally married to his American wife. "He has blond hair, green-eye," said Martha Nussbaum. 

In fact, his lawyer actually told him if he were Hispanic, given his "criminal record" he would not have taken his case at all. He would never have gotten through the process. 

Nussbum was essentially describing White Privilege in America and how her son-in-law had benefited from it. 

To her credit, instead of feeling guilty about having it, it's obvious she intends to use that privilege to give voice to what still needs to be done to equal the playing field for those who don't have it.  

   

Race Exhibit Reflections

When I decided that I would deliberately offer my skills (IT, Business Process knowledge, Leadership training) to serve the common good, I didn't set out to look for recognition or reward.

One of the things I contributed was a volunteer application online form to enable Race Exhibit volunteers to apply to volunteer. It was not the most difficult app to write, nor the app I put together was really that great. But it worked.

I built in on the shoulders of giants such as Plone (an Open Source CMS) and google doc.

That's the beauty of the new earth: it is a sharing world. People donate what they do best and put it out there for others to use.

Result: hundreds of volunteers signed up. An unexpected side-effect was my company: Middle Way Consulting, LLC got on the recoginition list outside the Rochester Public Library.

All these are indicators of what the New Earth could look like--it's a world of cooperation, friendship, respect, opennes and appreciation.

The spirit of cooperation that demonstrates our "better angel" is as much an inspiriation as the Race Exhibit itself that reminds us of the history of race. And the message really is we should know and learn from the past so we don't repeat it and that we can transcend that to move forward to create an open, compassionate, cooperative, inclusive world.--a New Earth.

Commitment

I have signed up to do the following:
1. IBM retiree club move to gmail
2. Interfaith Youth Core web presence
3. American Culture class with RCTC
4. Diversity Council Collaboration Center, governance board
5. Plone Club
6. Leadership Practice Group
Hmm, quite a list.

Metaphysics Studies

Interesting spiritual read:
http://www.umsonline.org/PrinterFriendly/SpiritualTeachers.pdf

Diversity

Humans are endowed with the ability to be aware. In our natural and purest state, we are aware that we are bound by a common purpose which gives rise to the essential quality of being human -- that of the Golden Rule, which all traditions embrace naturally. Treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. I believe that everyone of us values our own uniqueness. Diversity celebrates our differences. It's the the Golden Rule.

Diversity also has a practical application. In commerce or any human endeavors that require teamwork, when we look pass superficial differences, we will uncover the potential, the creativity and the fullness of that team as well as the diverse market and business opportunities that the team can participate in.

Counting down

Now it's becoming clear that in about 4 weeks, I will begin a new chapter. It has been a 34 year run and I am grateful for all that time.

There have been up's and down's but I have learned so much about myself and got to know so many people and gotten to play around and get paid. Amazing.

Wizard 2008

Got back from Wizsards almost a week ago. This year was the best yet. Over 2500 people from 50 countries were there.

Met a number of new friends and particularly from Brazil.