The inability to work together effectively has a great deal to do with the difficulties our society currently experiences. The situation between Occupy Oakland and The City of Oakland is an expression of this. Can a way forward be found?
A proposal: Occupy Oakland makes a commitment to creating a clean, beautiful and safe, vital and inclusive environment… A smoothly run city within a city that is so positive and so appealing that it draws people downtown rather than repelling them. The City lends it support to create and maintain this.
Clearly, the level of maturity and flexibility and responsibility required by BOTH parties to create and maintain this is above and beyond the current norm.
Is it IMPOSSIBLE to move forward together? Considering that our current situation as a society is less than functional, we would be very well advised to put aside our preconceptions and biases so that we can work together to create a model of something better.
Key question: How to deal with individuals who do not contribute in a positive, constructive manner? An answer: Compassionately AND firmly. Accepting the individual but not the behavior. Removing when necessary but first providing avenues and support for constructive participation.
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