"The Resolutionary" is a newsletter for people who examine their life and work to improve the quality and results for themselves, and those around them. It's purpose is to share insights, tools and resources for engaging in meaningful dialogue with yourself and others. ************************ Please pardon my absence over the last two months. I have been using my editorial prerogative to rethink the focus of "The Resolutionary," and completing the draft manuscript for "The Book of Agreement." I'm pleased to report that the early reviews for "The Book of Agreement" are way beyond what I had hoped for. The book now has a subtitle: "10 Essential Elements for Getting the Results You Want," a cover, and a ship date of October 1. You will hear more later. I will be in touch again soon describing some of my recent and scheduled activities. Peace... Stewart Stewart Levine ******************* 1. NEW EDITORIAL POLICY ******************* 1. NEW EDITORIAL POLICY I decided to do my best to take a more activist stance - comments on domestic and international events, practical tips for home and work, and other things that will have value for people active in the world. I think we are approaching a "tipping point." I believe that doing nothing risks the destruction of a vision for a free, open, nurturing global society. The world is too small for continued acts of violence. The tension on the planet is showing up in the form of stress, hyperactive kids who can't focus or learn, young beluga whales with a high incidence of cancer, the north atlantic supply of fish being decimated, etc., etc., etc. In the context of recent personal realizations I have discovered with profound clarity that it takes much more strength, courage and wisdom to withhold the knee-jerk reaction of striking back. Choosing a response congruent with the teachings of Ghandi ********************
How to Stop Negotiating Agreements for Protectin, When introducing the concept of Agreements for Results to an audience, I immediately think of the tag line from the old Quaker State Motor Oil commercial - You can pay me now, or you can pay me later. That line holds true when thinking about agreements. Most people never think about investing the time to make explicit the implicit agreement they believe they have at the beginning of a new personal or professional relationship, team, or project. They're off and running, everyone with their own vision of the destination and how to get there, without the clarity necessary to minimize the potential for conflict. Like the Quaker State warning of engine damage if you don't do the preventative maintenance of changing your oil, they will incur the cost of inevitable conflict, a cost that could be prevented. When we think about the idea of having an agreement we usually think about long legal documents, lots of "what ifs" and how we can protect ourselves from something we do not want to happen. I am a bit brainwashed because of my background as a lawyer, and the mindset I was taught to step into when "protecting" clients? When I serve others in my role as a Resolutionary, protection is usually what people are concerned about. They do not want to get hurt. I suggest a new paradigm that shifts the focus to a vision of results people want to produce, not the calamities they want to avoid. What follows are the 10 Essential Elements of Effective Agreements with an explanation of the differences between the old with the new perspective. 1. INTENT & VISION Results: Focus on what you want to happen 2. ROLES Results: Making sure someone has responsibility for all tasks 3. PROMISES Results: Contribution - committing to your part required for 4. TIME & VALUE Results: Clear time commitments and satisfaction with the value 5. MEASUREMENTS OF SATISFACTION Results: Goals that inspire and state clearly and measurably what 6. CONCERNS AND FEARS Results: Compassion for any "anxiety-producing" concerns of 7. RENEGOTIATION Results: How can we make this work as unanticipated changes take 8. CONSEQUENCES Results: What reminds everyone of the significance of promises 9. CONFLICT RESOLUTION Results: What will get us back on track quickly 10. AGREEMENT? Results: Do I trust enough to be in an open, ongoing collaboration There is an important difference between agreements for results and agreements for protection. Protective agreements, the current standard paradigm, focus on the "what if's" and how to protect against them. The primary inquiry is about what will take place if this or that disaster takes place. In the new paradigm, Agreements for Results: focus on the vision that brought people or organizations together. What is the desired result, and what do we have to do to make that happen? Here's a poem I wrote a few months ago. As you emerge from winter's slumber and spring brings forth new birth, please be bold with what has been germinating inside you. 4. SOMETHING YOU CAN DO The first is the "Tikkun Community." (www.tikkun.org) The Hebrew word Tikkun means "to mend, heal and transform the world." About 15 years ago Rabbi Michael Lerner started Tikkun Magazine. He recently has organized a "Community" to become activist in the essence of "Tikkun," the driving force of Jewish existence. I was pleased to attend the first Tikkun Community Gathering in NY in January. Shortly after that I was invited to another gathering by a colleague from Pennsylvania. Last week-end I had the privilege to participate in a formative meeting of "Every Church A Peace Church (ECAPC)" (www.ecapc.org.) "Coincidently" John Stoner, a man who spoke at the Tikkun Gathering, and who I sat next to in NY, is one of the founders of ECAPC! I am now clear that the task at hand is to resolve the freightening situation in the middle-east. When you think about that part of the world with simplicity it is like a war between a family that was once very close - that's why all three major religions claim it as "their" holy land. Between Tikkun and ECAPC two legs of a three legged stool are complete - we need the Muslim counterpart, and I suspect it is in place, if not, it is forming now. What follows is an appeal from Rabbi Lerner. He has been a tireless advocate for Peace in the middle east, despite threats to his life. The activities on the ground of late (Isreali soldiers resistance, Saudi peace proposal) are hopeful signs from this tinderbox. To learn more about ECAPC please go to their website. ***************** From Rabbi Michael Lerner I'm writing to ask your help in building a national Day of Fasting in support of peace in the Middle East and financial support for an ad that we are taking in the NY Times. I'm also wanting your help in our ongoing project to do education around this issue in your area. Even though this might seem to be a stretch for you because these issues may not be your main concern at the moment, I'm writing to you personally because I feel certain that if you read the material below carefully that you'll agree that you actually should be supporting this venture and can do so without undermining the other things you are involved with. Let me explain. I'm sure you know that many Israelis are coming to realize that these policies of Ariel Sharon have led to a dramatic escalation of fighting and insecurity rather than security. They have also put Israeli citizens who serve in the Israeli Reserves (mili'um) in an impossible position: because in order to enforce the Occupation, the troops are frequently asked to violate basic standards of human rights, and sometimes to wantonly kill or injure Palestinians. Recently, these Israeli soldier/citizens are saying that they can't do this any more. I am turning to you and to people from every faith, ethnicity, and spiritual background and asking for your help. Would you please sign the statement of support for them--and help us raise money so that we can publish the ad below in both US and Israeli newspapers? And would you please join the international Day of Fasting on March 27th--in support of the Israeli officers who won't serve, in support of the demand to End the Violence (on both sides), and in support of the demand to End the Occupation? And let your local newspapers and media about these efforts--and convince everyone you can to join the Fast? This is not just for Jews--the US government has given Ariel Sharon a blank check to escalate the repression on the West Bank. As people committed to non-violence, we also urge Palestinians to follow the strategy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi. But at this moment, we need non-Jews and Jews to stand up and be counted. The Contributions should be sent to Tikkun, 951 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, Ca. 94708 (credit card info can go to RabbiLerner@tikkun.org) and we will tear up checks or credit Please endorse and spread the word about the International Day of Fasting from sun-up to sun-down on March 27th--in support of the call to End the Violence on Both Sides, End the occupation, and support the reservists. Also, we are asking Jews to raise these issues at their Seder table on the night of March 27th after the fasting ends (first night of Passover), and Christians to talk about it in church during Holy Week. After March 27, and particularly if we succeed in raising enough money to print this ad, we will go into the next phase of our campaign. We will try to create local community meetings with "public opinion shapers" in every corner of the U.S. We will also try to create a network of students and professors on campus who share The Tikkun Community perspective on these issues--and to educate others there. Israeli policy is supported by the US government which blocks every effort at international intervention, vetoes U.N. resolutions calling for Israeli policy to change, and essentially gives Israel a blank check to follow self-destructive policies. We hope to educate community leaders and opinion shapers to a new way of thinking about the Middle East: one that reflects compassion for both sides and a serious commitment to non-violence, justice, and open-hearted reconciliation. We are in the process of developing a 60-80 page booklet to tell the story of the Middle East in a way that shows how decent people on both sides could misunderstand and misconstrue the other side, and then act in ways that gave the most hateful elements in both camps "evidence" for their worst fantasies. We believe that this kind of re-understanding of the situation is necessary on both sides--because We need your help to connect with people of influence, people who shape public thinking, not only specifically on foreign policy issues. Some of these people might be journalists or others working in media. some might be businessmen and corporate leaders. Some might be judges, doctors, academics at local colleges and universities, writers, high school teachers, union leaders and activists, social change activists who have not dealt with this particular issue, leaders of non-profits, government employees or elected officials (though the latter are least likely to be responsive, given their fear that the organized Jewish community might endanger their future should they speak up critical of Israel's current policies). There are people of influence in your community whom you know or have a way of contacting and who would be more likely to be responsive to you than to us as total strangers. What we are hoping is that you might play a role in creating a gathering of such people in your community or at your home. If you think you might do that, or even if you just want to send us the phone numbers and/or emails of those people whom you think we should invite, please contact Liat at community@tikkun.org to let us know. Please consider signing and supporting the ad, printed below, and the Fast day I've described. And let us know what you will be doing. Many blessings to you.
Support the Israeli Army Reservists who say "No" to the Occupation Over 230 brave Israeli Army Reserve Officers have risked their careers and now face jail sentences because they publicly refuse to serve in the Israeli army in the West Bank and Gaza. These soldiers have witnessed their own army violate human rights, practice torture, destroy homes, and perpetrate violence against civilians, acts that have become "necessary" to maintain an oppressive Occupation. They won't be silent partners to the Occupation any longer. Nor will tens of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets in demonstrations against the Occupation.
Join with us and the Israeli peace movement in calling for an immediate end to the Occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. We call for a compassionate, generous, and open-hearted approach to ending the Occupation and providing reparations for Palestinian refugees. This is necessary for peace, as is the end of all terror and violence against Israel by Palestinians. We invite you to participate in a world-wide day of fasting on March 27, from sunrise to sunset, in support of the reservists and in opposition to the use of violence by both sides and in opposition to the Occupation. We encourage you to turn part of your Passover Seder on the evening of March 27 into a mini teach-in on the way that Israel is acting as Pharaoh to a population that is seeking its own freedom and self-determination. But don't be one-sided: both sides continue to make self-destructive and immoral choices and both sides bear responsibility for the tragedy that has unfolded in Israel/Palestine. Nevertheless, on Passover, Jews cannot celebrate our freedom without committing ourselves to the liberation of everyone else as well--starting with the Palestinian people. The new Israeli refuseniks have learned the lessons of history: "Following orders" to enforce a brutal Occupation does not work, when doing so means violating international law, human rights, and the basic moral standards of humanity. We join with these reservists in saying "NO" to the Occupation. [ ] Enclosed is a check [ ] Charge my credit card: This ad was organized by The TIKKUN Community. Contact The TIKKUN Community (community@tikkun.org or 415-575-1200) for help in planning educational gatherings on college campuses, and in community centers, corporations, union halls, synagogues, churches, mosques, and ashrams to rethink the Middle East. Become part of The TIKKUN Community that is coordinating this work and provides educational materials, speakers, and other help. Support us financially and become an activist. Create a local chapter in your community or on a college campus, come to intern or volunteer in our San Francisco office; or work with us from your home town to contact the media with this message. The TIKKUN Community is an organization of Jews and our non-Jewish allies who seek: A "New Bottom Line" in all countries so that institutions, social practices, professional life, and corporations are judged "productive," "efficient" or "rational" not only to the extent that they maximize profits, but also to the extent that they maximize our capacities to be loving and caring, ethically and ecologically sensitive, and capable of responding to the universe with awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation. Chairperson: Rabbi Michael Lerner. Advisory Board includes: Cornel West, Michael Moore, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Susannah Heschel, Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Cherie Brown, Rabbi Mordecai Liebling, David Abram, Stewart Burns, Rev. Tony Campolo, Harvey Cox, Michael S. Miller, Rabbi Irwin Kula, Elizabeth Lesser, Shaul Magid, Rabbi Douglas Sagal, Robin West, Meg Wheatley, David Newman and Oren Yiftachel. |
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