When we were out there gleaning on the organic farm, I was expecting to be like the farmers are able to tell us what to do and that for them it was free labor. I had a negative mindset because I wasn’t expecting to be around with the people I knew, it was because I thought I was going to be bossed around and have people to tell me what to do every step and what to pick. But instead I found an environment where my friends and I were able to pick ripe fruits and vegetables. And not only that I had changed my mind set to that there are people that needed these vegetables and fruits to have healthier diets. These are going to kids that don’t really know much about diet and that they just ate whatever was given to them. These kids needed to have their café’s changed and be served something that would benefit them in the long run, rather than just eating something quick.
How is this accomplished? Love! When we think of love nowadays, it is usually associated as a romance type of word. But in this case we use the word love is that feeling that goes out to help the community. I believe it is important to show love towards the community and to help improve what you can. This is harder to achieve than what most people think. Adam Kahane described his trip to the Philippines as being successful and that they were able to get the government to cooperate and try to fix their structure. But he mentions “So I was stunned to learn, by the time my plane landed back in Boston, that the participants already denounced and denounced one another in the newspapers, and the whole exercise had collapsed” (40). This is due to the issue of power. What people don’t realize is how corrupt the Philippines is. The officials are all power hungry and especially in the Philippines the power gets to their heads and that ends up in disaster. It’s true that we have to have power so that people can organize things but most of the time power only destroys things if they are selfish and it shows. If they truly are not selfish they would be willing to give up their pride and show their love to the people that they are serving.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
from Courtney: Power : Love as Purpose: Caring
So often in my childhood I heard the importance of strength and the inherent weakness of humanity. We are taught that the only way to make a difference in this world is to obsess over our goals and achieve them regardless of the cost. Ultimately, I came to believe that whatever damage was caused through the process of achievement, the reward I receive at the finish line will wipe the slate clean. I’ve always struggled with the relationship between love and power because love didn’t produce tangible rewards, yet power felt so inhuman. Adam Kahane acknowledges the root of this dilemma by explaining his working definitions of love and power to be “ontological: they deal with what and why power and love are, rather than what they enable or produce (Kahane, 2).” Simply making this distinction can lead to a more functional set of priorities which values the reality and purpose of love and power, which then draws value to the reality and purpose of all things.
And the simple reality that Kahane brings vital attention to is that “none of us live in terra nullius (Kahane, 4).” Meaning that reality existed before me, you or any of our parents were brought into existence, and we cannot assume that our paths of self-realization are ideal for everyone. For instance, when addressing the Canadian aborigines, there existed a “widely held mental model that aboriginal people needed to ‘be developed’” but “the aboriginal leaders didn’t want to be controlled or fixed or developed by anyone (Kahane, 23).” Governmental leaders, however, tend to assume that the most efficient nations are based on their “power-over” their citizens. This mindset denies diversity and leaves no room for love, causing the masses to feel purposeless, fear questioning of the status quo, and lack personal and environmental awareness.
And the simple reality that Kahane brings vital attention to is that “none of us live in terra nullius (Kahane, 4).” Meaning that reality existed before me, you or any of our parents were brought into existence, and we cannot assume that our paths of self-realization are ideal for everyone. For instance, when addressing the Canadian aborigines, there existed a “widely held mental model that aboriginal people needed to ‘be developed’” but “the aboriginal leaders didn’t want to be controlled or fixed or developed by anyone (Kahane, 23).” Governmental leaders, however, tend to assume that the most efficient nations are based on their “power-over” their citizens. This mindset denies diversity and leaves no room for love, causing the masses to feel purposeless, fear questioning of the status quo, and lack personal and environmental awareness.
The two sides of the same coin
Power is an aspect that has always been floating around in our world for as long as we can remember. Power can comes in all kinds of shapes and colors and it is natural for one to want the entire collection. Kahane’s view on power is something I cannot disagree on. “Power is how we make a difference in the world; it is the means by which new social realities are created. Without power, nothing new grows” (13). This statement really stood out to me because it is something I can agree on. When I think about history, a lot of change has happened due to power. With the power president Lincoln had, he was able to abolish slavery; with the will power Bill Gates had, he was able to give rise to the computer industry; with the power of love the Martin Luther King Jr. had, he was able to put an end to segregation in America. No matter what kind of power, it has given change. Unfortunately, power is not so one sided as to just do good for society. “Power-over abuses force and compulsion to suppress or oppress or dominate another” (17). There are many occasions where power for self-interest does not do good for society and would sometimes harm others. A burglar has the power to rob a bank for money or a rapist overpowers a victim out of lust. Depending on how power is handled, it can bring about a good change for society in small or large scales. It can also bring about harm to both society and individuals. With great power comes great responsibility.
My experience in gleaning was very enjoyable. I had a lot of fun and gleaning would do some good for the community. Though it was in a small scale, I used my power to glean for the community. In doing this, I feel like I’m taking very small baby steps into creating change. Rather then using my power for material possessions, I used for my desire for change and the moral fiber. The community leaders use their power of leadership to create changes for the better in their perspectives. Individually, this effort is rather miniscule. With all of our efforts combined, we will make a difference and something will grow for the better.
My experience in gleaning was very enjoyable. I had a lot of fun and gleaning would do some good for the community. Though it was in a small scale, I used my power to glean for the community. In doing this, I feel like I’m taking very small baby steps into creating change. Rather then using my power for material possessions, I used for my desire for change and the moral fiber. The community leaders use their power of leadership to create changes for the better in their perspectives. Individually, this effort is rather miniscule. With all of our efforts combined, we will make a difference and something will grow for the better.
from Adam: Creating Change
Through the short two chapters of “Power and Love” much of which was said stood out to me as compelling. The first thing that struck me, as I am sure struck many others as profound, was the definitions given to both love and power. Both of these definitions burn brightly with no popularly added connotations. This book however, so far, has made it clear that it is a hard path to instill these two forces as equal as possible into one entity. As of this point I am skeptical, however optimistic that the forces of both power and love can in fact be embodied within one being (meaning one person, one community, one nation).
Although one great thing that struck me through this reading of the two forces is that from them, needs to stem creation. We as humans were created to in fact create. “Ursula Versteegen says that our most important learnings come not simply when we see the world anew, but specifically when we see ourselves- and our role in creating the world- anew” (22). The hardest part in this is the process of “seeing ourselves.” I feel as though many live day-to-day, year-to-year, decade-to-decade, without ever really examining oneself. I understand that it takes time and much strength to do so however I know that until we all examine oneself, we have no place or time to examine aspects of social change. If we examine other aspects of our world rather than the body and spirit in which we inhabit, whatever it is that we create will most likely become hollow. Therefore first we must examine self on the individual level to then create.
It is important to create anew, for leaders to create new realities, for all to create new realities. “One of my Guatemalan colleagues had been taught by the Jesuits that having a gift should be treated not as a virtue but as a responsibility. After all, because it is given to you, a gift is not something for which you can take credit” (36). We have all been given the gift of life. With this gift of life comes the gift of our voice for change. With the uniting of love and power comes creation, that creation must now be change.
Although one great thing that struck me through this reading of the two forces is that from them, needs to stem creation. We as humans were created to in fact create. “Ursula Versteegen says that our most important learnings come not simply when we see the world anew, but specifically when we see ourselves- and our role in creating the world- anew” (22). The hardest part in this is the process of “seeing ourselves.” I feel as though many live day-to-day, year-to-year, decade-to-decade, without ever really examining oneself. I understand that it takes time and much strength to do so however I know that until we all examine oneself, we have no place or time to examine aspects of social change. If we examine other aspects of our world rather than the body and spirit in which we inhabit, whatever it is that we create will most likely become hollow. Therefore first we must examine self on the individual level to then create.
It is important to create anew, for leaders to create new realities, for all to create new realities. “One of my Guatemalan colleagues had been taught by the Jesuits that having a gift should be treated not as a virtue but as a responsibility. After all, because it is given to you, a gift is not something for which you can take credit” (36). We have all been given the gift of life. With this gift of life comes the gift of our voice for change. With the uniting of love and power comes creation, that creation must now be change.
Helpful Hand/s
Ka'ua Kaholokula
"We cannot address our tough challenges only through driving towards self-realization or only through driving towards unity. We need to do both." (4)
Doing gleaning for some people may seem like an obvious choice to do, as well for others, something to avoid or nix. As one classmate defined gleaning a couple classes ago, cheap slave labour. I believe ,like the quote mentions, gleaning is something that the individual both has to realize its importance by self-actualization and persistence of spreading its significance to others in hopes to produce togetherness.
For me, helping people, the environment, animals, and practically anything/anyone else has always been my number one priority for as long as I could remember. I felt like it was my mission since I was born to be that helpful. Then once helping, the only thing I had left to do was introduce others to the meaning behind my actions and educate them further. If they too were inspired to help, I was complete.
Although it is possible for one person to change the world, if we want to continue to keep the world change for the better, we need anyone we can get. With Kahane's statement that was given in the prompt, it clearly relates to anyone of us in this class, Marin County, or even, the entire world. Miguel from Indian Creek Ranch is a prime example of this. He does so much gleaning for the schools' and the kids' benefits alone. He was not told to glean. He did and continues to do so because he wants to better the kids' lives and eating decisions. He gleans ever so frequently and helps with making others more aware too. By aiding Miguel, it instilled the same motivation in tons of us. We now feel like perhaps, we can improve someone's life too and make a difference. It is not a simple task by any means but it is still something that far too many people shy away from doing. If some more people could truly see once you affect one person positively, you'll want to affect them. Love is one thing that is good to be affected with.
from Pedro: Love and Family
Love is a word that I am becoming very familiar with this year. Love and family go hand in hand, my family away from home is my soccer team. We have been struggling this year but we all know that we are there for each other through the hard times and the good times (which I hope come soon). “Love is the one power that awakens the ego to the existence of something outside itself” (32). Soccer is a team sport that requires hard work and trust in your teammates. Its about the whole, knowing that we have each others back, putting the needs of the team before yourself, that’s a family driven by the power of love. This will lead to success on and off the field, and will bring us closer together.
If this kind of love could be applied to the world it would make all of our lives better. It reminds me of ant colonies, I am not sure if they are driven by love but they put the needs of the colony first which is why they are so successful in animal kingdom. They are not driven by power; a trait evident in mankind. It is a characteristic that can have negative side effects and lead to hunger of more power and greed. When a person does not abuse the power they are given however, and use it with love, it can open up many doors. “Power is how we make a difference in the world; it is the means by which new social realities are created. Without power, nothing new grows” (13). Leaders are necessary, we have leaders on our soccer team, but in order to grow you need to show love for your family and that love will be reciprocated. Leaders have to work together with their people to grow and make a difference the way that Kahane gives examples in text.
If this kind of love could be applied to the world it would make all of our lives better. It reminds me of ant colonies, I am not sure if they are driven by love but they put the needs of the colony first which is why they are so successful in animal kingdom. They are not driven by power; a trait evident in mankind. It is a characteristic that can have negative side effects and lead to hunger of more power and greed. When a person does not abuse the power they are given however, and use it with love, it can open up many doors. “Power is how we make a difference in the world; it is the means by which new social realities are created. Without power, nothing new grows” (13). Leaders are necessary, we have leaders on our soccer team, but in order to grow you need to show love for your family and that love will be reciprocated. Leaders have to work together with their people to grow and make a difference the way that Kahane gives examples in text.
The Power to Make a Difference
Power is a complicated word that has many definitions because as Kahane says, “power looks different to those who have to struggle for it” (17). But I think he could have made a stronger statement by saying that power looks different to everyone. Power can be used to describe strength, control, and supremacy. It can be used to describe politicians, athletes, teachers, and corporations. A weightlifter wants more “power” to lift heavier weights. Food corporations want more “power” to be able to make more money off of consumers. But the type of power that we need to focus on in this class is to make a difference.
Recently, we have gone gleaning (for some more than others) and I personally enjoyed it. It was fun because I’ve never done something like that before. But what hit me most was what happened after gleaning as I saw how much food was in the back of the truck that needed to be delivered. I will never forget how surprised I was when the truck pulled up. I expected a pick-up truck or even a van that held all the food but a HUGE truck (about the size of a large U-Haul) pulled up. I couldn’t believe how much food people were able to glean in a small effort. This is the “power” we all need to realize we have in this class. This type of power brought food to local schools that kept them from eating (what someone said in class) “garbage bags.” Just imagine what we could do with an entire community support this cause and realizing that we don’t need to rely on processed foods if we can just come together and work to make a better community.
I know I need to be realistic in that every person will give up processed food to go out and farm every week. But that is where love comes in because love, according to Kahane, “creates opening, potential, and opportunity” (46). People need to WANT to glean and make the necessary steps to move away from processed foods. The want to glean and help for the love of the community will make dramatic differences. Love, along with power, can bring people to realize that it doesn’t take much to make a difference. If a class from Dominican and a few other people supporting “National Gleaning Day” can come together to make a large difference in providing food to many schools, imagine what could happen when whole communities combine their love and power to make real changes happen.
Recently, we have gone gleaning (for some more than others) and I personally enjoyed it. It was fun because I’ve never done something like that before. But what hit me most was what happened after gleaning as I saw how much food was in the back of the truck that needed to be delivered. I will never forget how surprised I was when the truck pulled up. I expected a pick-up truck or even a van that held all the food but a HUGE truck (about the size of a large U-Haul) pulled up. I couldn’t believe how much food people were able to glean in a small effort. This is the “power” we all need to realize we have in this class. This type of power brought food to local schools that kept them from eating (what someone said in class) “garbage bags.” Just imagine what we could do with an entire community support this cause and realizing that we don’t need to rely on processed foods if we can just come together and work to make a better community.
I know I need to be realistic in that every person will give up processed food to go out and farm every week. But that is where love comes in because love, according to Kahane, “creates opening, potential, and opportunity” (46). People need to WANT to glean and make the necessary steps to move away from processed foods. The want to glean and help for the love of the community will make dramatic differences. Love, along with power, can bring people to realize that it doesn’t take much to make a difference. If a class from Dominican and a few other people supporting “National Gleaning Day” can come together to make a large difference in providing food to many schools, imagine what could happen when whole communities combine their love and power to make real changes happen.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Love in Perspective
Upon reading this chapter I came to the realization that there is further meaning to the words that I frequently hear. The word described in this chapter was "love". Rather than going into detail about the overstated and massively cliched definition of love, he took it in a different direction. This chapter gave me a fresh insight into his world of love and the innocent perspective of the emotion that many people overlook when they carry on with their daily lives. Kahane describes love as the disposition to help another with their needs and putting less focus on our own (29). Upon first reading this, I found myself opposing such point of view until I read further and realized how relevant it actually is to my life. As a matter of fact, I had an experience that truly illustrated the point.
It started when I went on your gleaning trip to Novato. I didn't think much of the trip since it involved what I considered to be a miniscule task. The project involved picking vegetables and measuring them before delivering them to local high schools. Once having completed the task it was brought to my attention that I focus on the quality and size of the vegetables before taking them. Upon arriving at the high school, it hit me that I wasn't just doing this for the well-being of my grade, but rather an opportunity to help people who weren't me. When I read this chapter, I came to the conclusion that when you do things for others thinking about yourself, you are doing it for the wrong reasons and is cause for frustration. True love isn't just a matter of finding the group of people for yourself, but rather finding the right things for others.
Christina Kwok
"Love is the only emotion that expands intelligence"
Power and love two things so similar yet so different. As we pass through each day we have more gratification that love is the only way and that power is bad. Power is not bad, as long as you know how to use that power. Love doesn't have to be the sappy emotional movie, more as just a way of life. Within power you need to have self reassurance, drive, exuberance, and knowledge. Love, not having all of those same qualities, I think still posses some or it is not real love and devotion. In Love and Power by Adam Kahane, I enjoy all of the different social definitions of the words power and love. Though the words have some correlation, I also believe that they are widely different. I agree with Kahane and his idea that one cannot thrive without the other, they do both need huge amounts of concentration to make any sort of change.
As a dancer, and just a very kinesthetic person in general, when I witness something it will become ten times more powerful then if I just read it or hear about it. When my heart is touched, after a physical experience I will not forget the importance of that moment. "All of the turning points in the project were moments when the team saw the reality of Guatemala through each other's eyes and saw each other, not as faceless enemies or as primitive nonpersons, but as brothers and sisters, part of one whole." (p.34) This is how I enjoy an outcome. If I have been able to see what is happening. Yes, I am able to feel things and be touched by reading and hearing what is going on, but it is so much more powerful when YOU are the person living it.
In the context of Bill's management philosophy seen on page 31, I think he sets love up in an appropriate way. "I mean that you do not have to like someone to love him or her. Love is an Intentional disposition towards another person." We are always able to empathize with situations. Why is it then that we choose not to. That compassion is the type of love I believe he is looking at in this book. That type of care and devotion would enhance every persons life in some way. "Love is the one power that awakens the ego to the existence of something outside itself"(p.32)
Power on the other hand I think is a bit more tricky. Power has hunger. That hunger has the ability to turn into an obsession and craving. This is when it tends to stop looking at the important issues and turns into a struggle for more. "Power-over is a subset of power-to" (p.17) One can be a conflict where as the other is support. This is a fine line to balance with.
Brooke Thornberry
As a dancer, and just a very kinesthetic person in general, when I witness something it will become ten times more powerful then if I just read it or hear about it. When my heart is touched, after a physical experience I will not forget the importance of that moment. "All of the turning points in the project were moments when the team saw the reality of Guatemala through each other's eyes and saw each other, not as faceless enemies or as primitive nonpersons, but as brothers and sisters, part of one whole." (p.34) This is how I enjoy an outcome. If I have been able to see what is happening. Yes, I am able to feel things and be touched by reading and hearing what is going on, but it is so much more powerful when YOU are the person living it.
In the context of Bill's management philosophy seen on page 31, I think he sets love up in an appropriate way. "I mean that you do not have to like someone to love him or her. Love is an Intentional disposition towards another person." We are always able to empathize with situations. Why is it then that we choose not to. That compassion is the type of love I believe he is looking at in this book. That type of care and devotion would enhance every persons life in some way. "Love is the one power that awakens the ego to the existence of something outside itself"(p.32)
Power on the other hand I think is a bit more tricky. Power has hunger. That hunger has the ability to turn into an obsession and craving. This is when it tends to stop looking at the important issues and turns into a struggle for more. "Power-over is a subset of power-to" (p.17) One can be a conflict where as the other is support. This is a fine line to balance with.
Brooke Thornberry
Monday, September 27, 2010
Create Something
As Kahane relates to a character in the Broadway musical Rent, “The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation!” (2). In order to have power and love in a world, we need to create a compromise between the two—a world where both some power and some love join together to create a world of peace.
This idea of creation is minimal at the moment, but with small steps and equal doses of power and love by people, this created world of peace can come together, and as the infamous cliché quotes, help make the world a better place. Take for example, this Colloquium class, we already have done a huge step in making gleaning and the School Lunch Program better known in the Marin area. We were able to go out and glean and learn something new, and hopefull adapt this better eating plan to our lives, as well as the high school students we taught. I, for one, never knew what gleaning was until I entered this class. I will admit, that I had hesitation at first, and thought it was a silly field trip. However, after gleaning with the class, and going out to the high school to feed the students, I could better adapt to the lifestyle change, and actually adjust mine. I have been making notice of what I’ve been eating and making sure it’s healthier. I was able to do this because I have the power of what goes into my body, and the love for my body to make that change.
Miguel, the school food district director, is another great example of how power and love can come together to create something better, and create change. He is definitely in a place of power, and as Kahane explains: “Power is how we make a difference in the world; it is the means by which new social realities are created. Without power, nothing new grows” (13). Miguel is doing just that. Miguel is not just using power to make the School Lunch Program healthier and more informed, he is using his love and trying to teach the students. Kahane uses another example from Humberto Maturana, and Miguel is exemplifying just that in his work. Humberto Maturana conveys, “love is the only emotion that expands intelligence” (34). Miguel’s love for the students and this School Lunch Program, are growing in order to teach the children about gleaning and helping them live healthier lives.
Power and love can come together to make a better change and create something new. This can only happen if both come together equally. Without power, there is no love. And without love, there is no power. Some commonalities lie between the two, but in order for something to be functional and create something better, both must be an equal match.
This idea of creation is minimal at the moment, but with small steps and equal doses of power and love by people, this created world of peace can come together, and as the infamous cliché quotes, help make the world a better place. Take for example, this Colloquium class, we already have done a huge step in making gleaning and the School Lunch Program better known in the Marin area. We were able to go out and glean and learn something new, and hopefull adapt this better eating plan to our lives, as well as the high school students we taught. I, for one, never knew what gleaning was until I entered this class. I will admit, that I had hesitation at first, and thought it was a silly field trip. However, after gleaning with the class, and going out to the high school to feed the students, I could better adapt to the lifestyle change, and actually adjust mine. I have been making notice of what I’ve been eating and making sure it’s healthier. I was able to do this because I have the power of what goes into my body, and the love for my body to make that change.
Miguel, the school food district director, is another great example of how power and love can come together to create something better, and create change. He is definitely in a place of power, and as Kahane explains: “Power is how we make a difference in the world; it is the means by which new social realities are created. Without power, nothing new grows” (13). Miguel is doing just that. Miguel is not just using power to make the School Lunch Program healthier and more informed, he is using his love and trying to teach the students. Kahane uses another example from Humberto Maturana, and Miguel is exemplifying just that in his work. Humberto Maturana conveys, “love is the only emotion that expands intelligence” (34). Miguel’s love for the students and this School Lunch Program, are growing in order to teach the children about gleaning and helping them live healthier lives.
Power and love can come together to make a better change and create something new. This can only happen if both come together equally. Without power, there is no love. And without love, there is no power. Some commonalities lie between the two, but in order for something to be functional and create something better, both must be an equal match.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Power and Love in Work
The definitions for “power” and “love” are nothing that I have ever considered. The author uses the definition by Tillich, who says that power is the drive that people need to achieve their goal and love as the drive to unite the separated (2). Kahane suggests that in order to define one term, we need the other; however, they must be balanced. From my interpretation of these few chapters, I can see how it is relent to my own experience. Power and love is in everything we do, it is the drive that keeps us going from day to day. Without, power or love, we would not accomplish anything.
This class has made me reevaluate my beliefs and decision methods. At the beginning, I never would have thought that I would enjoy gleaning or working for the community. Kahane says that:
If those of us engaged in social change act to realize ourselves without recognizing that we and others are interdependent, the result will at best be insensitive […]. If we recognize our interdependence and act to unify with others, but do so in a way that hobbles our own or others’ growth, the result will at best be ineffectual and at worst, deceitfully reinforcing of the status quo (8).
In order to be more efficient in what we do, we must unite our powers and love. We will not get the most out community project if we do not realize how effective working together can be.
The balance between power and love can lead to so many opportunities and achievements. This can be seen in the food project that our class is working on. The leaders involved in this project demonstrate both of these characteristics. For example, Miguel uses this power as a figure in the school district to drive his love to ensure meals for the neighboring schools. The balance of power and love resulted in a greater overall success. There are so many leaders out there that have abused power and love, thus leading to destruction. The balance of these two characteristics is the fundamental concept of this book.
Stephanie Huynh
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