Guess what I woke up to this morning? A HUGE article in my local paper entitled "Sip coffee, stir conversation: Group meets weekly to pose public questions" by Jarrett Warshaw (jwarshaw@poststar.com)
"In between sips of tea and silent reflections, Socrates Cafe discussion facilitator Colleen Florio posed a question.
"What is the purpose of community?" she asked the 10 people gathered at the Ridge Street Coffee Co. for their weekly meeting.
Member Krista Reville, owner of the Glens Falls Gnosis Center on Ridge Street, took the topic into a slightly different direction.
"The central question for me is, "What makes a desirable community?" she said, while nursing a cappuccino.
After finishing his espresso and polishing off a raspberry tart, retired psychologist Steve Johnson weighed in with a sense of urgency, said the character of a city tends to suffer from the independent-minded citizens who aren't always respectful of the law.
"Maybe the people of Glens Falls are self-directed," he said. "They do what they want, and they go around the law if they want to."
A guidance counselor by day and Socratic supposrter by night, Renee Peattie focused on the conversation even more on specific details. Acknowledging South Street's cleanliness issues, she said shop owners could "adopt a block" where they'd be in charge of helping maintain their respective areas."
The goal of the group, unlike a Common Council meeting, is not necessarily to resolve an argument. Instead it is to get people thinking differently about what they assume to be the truth.
The concept for the cafe originated with the bokk, "Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy" by Christopher Phillips.
A lot of the topics the group covers - such as inquiries into whether true altruism exists or whether democracy is inherently good - don't always come from Phillips' writing. Often, the discussion begins with a recap of the previous week, spurring ideas that lead toward an overarching dilemma.
And both organizers and participants recognize the benefits that the examined life acn have for the community.
"Glens Falls is a part of your identity and you don't want to be like anyone else," Florio said.
The Socrates Cafe meets ever Tuesday night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call the Ridge Street Coffee Co. at (518) 792-3711 or Colleen Florio at (518) 321-2695 for more information.
I guess it's time for a new Letter to the Editor.
apologies for the typos...was in a rush
The goal of the group, unlike a Common Council meeting, is not necessarily to resolve an argument. Instead it is to get people thinking differently ...
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Bingo. Enter change agents and facilitators to achieve the desired outcome and 'transformation' (synthesis).
In re: my post earlier today #34: I finally wrote the following to my local newspaper. It is irritating that they just cut number of words allowed. And yes, I will admit to a second agenda. The paper has run 2 articles in the past month on New Age one "religion" spirituality and I took advantage of the fact that one of the members of the Socrates Cafe is the owner of the Gnosis Center to get a dig in there as well.
I hate being sensationalistic, but sometimes when your town is half-asleep, you have to wake them up. I could also have taken a "wait and see what they do" approach, but again, later could be too late. If I can cause citizens in my area to be wary of the group itself, perhaps they will keep the facilitator from controlling the Common Council meetings.
Editor:
In Thursday's article on the Socrates Cafe, Steve Johnson is quoted as saying, "Maybe the people of Glens Falls are self-directed" and "They do what they want, and they go around the law if they want to."
I would be interested in knowing what prompted this comment and if he can offer specific examples where the good citizens of Glens Falls are "going around the law." What law? Some law he'd like to see created in the near future?
It was of particular interest to me that this article should appear the day after I had a discussion with friends about how the Delphi Technique is used by facilitators to manipulate citizens into a consensus in regard to the "Smart Growth" agenda. The process begins in groups such as this one.
What makes a desirable community? I suppose that depends on one's view of how independent-minded we American citizens should be "allowed" to be. The character of a city is not to be found in collectivist visioning, but in eclecticism and in working together while respecting the rights of the property owner.
Yes, the goal is "to get people thinking differently." It is an attempt to coerce citizens into collective behavior and thinking. The goal of the Delphi Technique and the Hegelian dialectic of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis (the "new" thesis) is to bring all participants to a "oneness of mind" (toward the goal of the facilitator). Neo-gnostic gurus use similar techniques.
Just a word of warning to the "independent-minded" (law-breaking?) citizens of Glens Falls. Is it "cleanliness" on South Street that is an issue? Or is it something else? Is your street next?
(note..."friends" is you:) and South Street is a bar-filled street and home to many of the area's indigent. OTB is there, as well as the Food Pantry. Not a particularly dirty street- these people are more concerned with getting rid of the people who frequent the area). I can walk on South Street safely.
I'm sure I'll get blasted, but I'm too old to care.