Many years ago, when I was still a teenager (early 50s) I attended a
meeting in New York whose purpose was planning a protest against civil
defense practice "air raids". There were "old hands" in the room from War
Resisters League, Fellowship of Reconciliation, and American Friends
Service Committee. The issue was the morality of exposing demonstrators
to danger (the govt and police didn't like protests then any more than
they do today). There was a good deal of discussion of the meaning of
satyagraha, which was a buzzword in those circles and was pretty much
"defined" as compassionate integrity. Bayard Rustin made a lasting
impression on my consciousness at that meeting by constantly reminding us
that (in his opinion, I now suppose) satyagraha has an action component -
that it is compassion and integrity as evidenced by practice. (AFSC
responded by launching a long campaign called "Speak Truth to Power".)
Jim, thanks for reminding us that Gandhi was not effective because he
preached satyagraha, but because he lived it and led it.
>Suzanne states:
>
>"Love in organizations, then, is the most potent source of power we
>have available. I want to explore how to translate this truth into
>practical applications."
>
>Peter Senge, when conducting a workshop here in D.C. this summer used the
>words Love and Truth to describe "creative tension." In other words,
>developing a shared vision of the desired future taps into aspiration and
>what people love. An honest appraisal of current reality is telling and
>sharing the truth about what is going on. He also pointed out that because
>of the anxiety the tension creates we often compromise our vision and/or
>deny the truth about current reality.
>
>When William Shirer asked Mahatma Gandhi how he was able to accomplish
>what he did, Gandhi replied that it was with Love and Truth - Satyagraha.
>
>Love and truth are practical applications, not just abstract principles.
>
>Jim Saveland
>USDA Forest Service
>/s=j.saveland/ou1=w01c@mhs-fswa.attmail.com
>
-- Jack Hirschfeld Whoa! I want to know, how does the song go? jack@his.com