I don't often write about politics ... not here. But freedom of speech issues are a hot item; and the political becomes the personal. I know this to be t r u e : witness the women's movement of the 20's and its revival of the 70's and 90's.
Wikileaks has inspired controversy, as the struggle for knowing and not "getting played for a sucker" will. Daniel Ellsberg comes to mind. He's the man who testified at a Federal conspiracy trial in which I was honored to be a defendant, and years before that, had taken a stand that government lies should be exposed. He was willing to risk imprisonment to make his point, exposing government lies about war via the Pentagon Papers . Well, here we go again. All I can say is, more power to Wiki and its director, Julian Assange. Lies don't breed trust or loyalty, personally or politically. And we are complicit in lies when we don't confront them, personally or collectively. For several months now, I have been facilitating a women's group again. It's been some years ... It's getting to the point that the trust is there enough that people are starting to admit their true feelings/struggles. There's humor ... tears. It's a reluef to be there for me, in this realness created by people who are not interested in "fronting".
Good life! I am in my element and am remembering why I went into this field in the first place ... Dropping formalities is a much more warm, interesting way to be. Women's Group a n d Men's GroupLately I had to cover for a colleague, and facilitated a support group for men. Much like in Thursday-night women's group, I kept hearing from the men that it was the place they could be real. Work, where there's a certain financial motive to looking "together" stops let-your-hair-down conversations from happening much. Time is another factor ... how often do I see friends and tell them what's up with me, or sound-out my sweatier personal questions?
That there's a need we have these days, more than ever, to have such a place shouldn't surprise me. But it does. Maybe I am in denial about just how little I carve out the friend time I would like to think I have. |
Welcome!There's nothing like letting your truth o u t . Archives
July 2016
Categories
All
|