[Emergence]

Typically, Flame Throwers, Radicals and Zealots are at war, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Communist, Asian, or White European. They will be at war with anyone who does not hold their beliefs, including their own people, the Ideologues, Moderates and Pragmatists. Even former friends who are not extreme enough in their beliefs can become the enemy.

Emergence is a monthly publication with the intent to evoke, provoke and inspire, plus offer insights and tools to your constantly changing role as a leader.
This newsletter is available to our coaching clients, our coaching groups, people who subscribe from our website (www.syzergy.biz), plus people who have inquired about our services. We appreciate both your feedback and your willingness to pass these issues on to others who you may think would value the information and discussion.
To SUBSCRIBE, please use the links at the bottom of this issue.

Syzergy Pty Ltd. For permission to post or
reprint, please see notice at the end.

The Spectrum of Differences in people of all races, and creeds.

We live in ever increasingly complex times. In my world in Australia, the issues we face on race and religious tension are far less than in most other countries.
A colleague of mine, who immigrated from South Africa several years ago, said he couldn’t believe the high level of acceptance Australian’s have for immigrants. For the most part, the continuing great economy and the very vastness of both our land and our resources, has afforded us an expansive and sharing point of view. Plus we have a very strict immigration policy. (One of the biggest issues on the table currently is the holding of illegal immigrants in detention centres.)

However, the increasing global tensions between race and religion are escalating, even in countries that 5-10 years ago seemed stable.
Take for example, the Netherlands. In 2002 the murder of Pim Fortuyn, the anti-immigration politician, was a red flag to the below surface tensions building.
When filmmaker Theo van Gogh was brutally murdered by Mohammed Bouyeri, a self defined Islamic radical, the world sat up and heard the rumblings of tension in this peaceful and civilised community.
In February of this year, the New York times reported that a flood of people are looking to leave this country. They live in fear of their religious and social freedoms being reduced by an ever increasingly divergent belief system.

In writing this I am not pointing specifically at tensions between Muslins and Christian communities. While these tensions are escalating all over Europe and other parts of the world, this is only one example of the tensions that divide us as our borders become more and more open.

The question I pose is how do we see this tension from a perspective that transcends race and religion? And we need to do this, because it would be easy for us to get caught up in the superficial tensions that race and religion can produce,

I would like to introduce you to a model based on the work of Muzafer Sherif. This model allows us the view of people beyond race and religion, for it is true that in all races and all religions, there are people who operate from different values. Indeed, if we look around our own work environment, we will find representation from many of the groups listed below. Indeed, we will probably find these different values even as we drive our cars to work. From the extremes of road rage to the driver who graciously lets you into the que.

Flame Throwers: These people are aggressive, violent, predatory. Their intent is to destroy, attack and eliminate.

Radicals: These are the extremists. They thrive on being contrary to moderates and any form of compromise.

Zealots: Fiercely evangelical with causes, makes all or nothing demands.

Ideologues: These are the true believers and absolutists, with firm convictions and rigid boundaries.

Moderates: These people have softer beliefs, are open to other options, are less intense and ego-involved.

Pragmatists: Practical people, they look at what works and what is possible.

Conciliators: These people search for the common ground, inclusiveness, consensus.

By using this spectrum of differences we can avoid stereotyping people to race and religion.

Typically, Flame Throwers, Radicals and Zealots are at war, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Communist, Asian, or White European. They will be at war with anyone who does not hold their beliefs, including their own people, the Ideologues, Moderates and Pragmatists. Even former friends who are not extreme enough in their beliefs can become the enemy.

Knowing this model we have the ability to begin to practise the use of it. Let us not condemn a religion or a race of people. Let us instead talk in the language of intensity of beliefs and actions.

A very progressive culture such as the Netherlands, with its centre of gravity at Moderates or Pragmatists, needs to address issues with Flame-throwers, Radicals and Zealots, no matter what their background. Neo Nazi groups would fit into this category. All nations at a higher level than Zealot need to address the issue of what to do with their Flame-throwers, Zealots and Radicals.

The next question, now that we have moved passed surface stereotypes of race and religion is ~Just how do we do this? How do we address fundamentalist, extremist’s beliefs of all colour, shape and size, in a progressive society? What environmental conditions exist to allow the emergence of these groups of people? And, closer to our own work and home, how do we create a healthy way to deal with anger and frustration, for if we scratch the surface deep enough, we may just find simmering tensions within ourselves, that have no outlet, other than under mild to extreme provocation (such as we see on our roads)? In the movie Crash, Sandra Bullocks character says at one point.” I wake up angry,” inferring that she is angry all the time.
Why are we so angry?

All great questions. Well worth discussion in another issue. I would be most interested in any comments or thoughts you may have about these questions/issues.

On the Personal Side

This Sunday, July 3rd, I am running the Gold Coast Marathon (www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au). While I have run over 10 marathons in the last 11 years of being a dedicated runner, this is the race that I have invested more focused energy into than all of the others.
I have the deepest respect for the marathon. Many marathon runners will tell you that a marathon is the microcosm of the macrocosm called life. You can quite possibly go through all levels of emotion and feeling in the course of the event. One minute on fire, the next minute, zero flame. Nor is it wise to start the race with the thought in mind…I have 42 kms to go. Better to start with focusing on the next kilometre only, and then the next one.
When I started running 11 years ago, it was for purely aesthetic reasons. I wanted my body to look better. (it worked)
I quickly discovered, as most serious athletes discover, that sport addresses multiple dimensions. The physical component is one small part. Most athletes will tell you that the mental and emotion are the significant parts. Once you get foundational fitness, the mental and emotion separate the stayers with the have beens. Then there is the spiritual component. All sport, at some stage, transcends to the spiritual.
Self-respect, self-discipline, self-esteem, are all enhanced if one stays the course. You get to see your soul in all of its magnificence and in its smallness.
You get to see who you are when the chips are really down. A quitter, or a fighter? You get to dance with your own devil. Ultimately, you also get to a place of humility. The deepest respect for your physical being and the emotions and thinking that drive us.
Each day I can run freely, I am so grateful. For the movement, and for all that running has brought to my life.

I will let you know how the event goes in the next issue, or you can check out the event online. My race number is M957.