Theos-Talk Archives (September 2009 Message tt00068)

Glad to hear about the apology from the Dutch leader and she did the right
thing.

Since the disenfranchisement move was directed at members all over the
world, it would have done a lot of good if it was broadcast world-wide.

In todayâs world it is very easy with Internet. I am sure she uses Internet
for other theosophical organizational communications. Also, if the leader
distanced herself from the other members of the quartet, she would have come
out in flying colors.

All the others in the quartet have not done it in very simple and open
terms. However we have seen are comments from others nuancing the move which
does not go to the heart of the issue. This does not help anyone. This only
makes some of us to be very vigilant and as we do not want to be surprised
again with some other clever (self serving) move not in the best interests
of members or TS.



MKR


On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM, katinka_hesselink <
mail@katinkahesselink.net> wrote:

>
>
> Hi MKR,
>
> For what it's worth, the former dutch chair woman of the Dutch section did
> apologize for signing that proposal about disenfranchisement. It turns out
> she signed without asking the board whether they agreed. She did so right
> before handing over the post to the next chair.
>
> I personally think it's far less likely that conspiracies are going on,
> than that people have simply gone back to work for the TS.
>
> I think people are confused, which is only natural, and building on that
> with conspiracy theories is not going to help the movement any.
>
> Katinka
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>, MKR
> <mkr777@...> wrote:
> >
> > Let me add a few of my brief comments on issues related to TS.
> >
> > While the election is over more than a year ago, we all saw the actions
> of
> > many of the section leaders and we are yet to see any action to bridge
> the
> > cleavage demonstrated in the last meeting of the general council. Some
> get
> > the feeling that everyone is hiding behind the silence (possibly planning
> > next surprise move) and we have not seen any demonstration of any
> leadership
> > to get going.
> >
> > The continued lack of transparency and the loss of trust engendered by
> the
> > ultra secret effort to disenfranchise all of us and the lack of
> recognition
> > of the error and need to openly eat crow and apologize leaves many to
> > believe that unless some very bold and creative dramatic steps are taken,
> > the cleavage will continue to linger on and we have to wait for the next
> > generation of young creative imaginative men and women takes over the
> > organization in all parts of the world.
> >
> > While street smartness can come with age, when has world seen
> > septuagenarians and octogenarians responsible for coming up with new and
> > creative ideas to contribute to growth of any enterprise. Let us all hope
> > that we soon find young leaders around the world to take us to the
> future.
> > Elders and old men and women cannot do it.
> >
> > MKR
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 1:07 PM, katinka_hesselink <
> > mail@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I've read Preethi's account of relations at Adyar last year with
> interest,
> > > however, I'm not surprised Mary Anderson denies the charges against
> Radha.
> > > After all it's one thing to complain a bit about relations with one's
> > > coworkers as they're going on. It's quite another to want them
> published on
> > > the internet for anybody to read.
> > >
> > > Theosophists I meet sometimes tell me things and then add: don't
> publish
> > > that. I guess Mary Anderson should have said the same to Preethi. Or
> better
> > > yet: Preethi should have asked Mary in advance whether she wanted those
> > > comments published. In the Internet age we're all journalists in a
> sense and
> > > we have to take the responsibility that comes with that to only publish
> > > about other people what is absolutely essential AND they agree can be
> > > published.
> > >
> > > It's different when it's issues of principle. Like when we were all
> > > protesting the potential change in how the president is elected. Or
> when
> > > we're talking about who the new president is going to be. But right now
> all
> > > that is settled and we need to get back to the work or running lodges
> and
> > > magazines, publishing books and organizing lectures.
> > >
> > > It's a normal fact of life that people who work together sometimes get
> > > along great, and at others don't. Posting such temporary complaints
> online a
> > > year after they happened is of no use to anybody, aside from the
> interest
> > > most of us have in gossip.
> > >
> > > If the TS is going to move forward into the 21st century in a way that
> is
> > > of use to humanity, we're going to have to face some real issues,
> instead of
> > > getting side tracked into personal complaints.
> > >
> > > Real issues we're facing:
> > >
> > > - how to build community online in a way that is productive and helps
> > > people grow spiritually
> > > - how to build community offline: help our lodges grow and be places of
> > > real study and a meeting place for people of diverse cultural and
> religious
> > > backgrounds
> > > - how to transform our magazines into well... magazines. Quest is an
> actual
> > > magazine in this sense, though it might have a higher percentage of in
> depth
> > > theosophical content. The Theosophist and the Dutch magazine Theosofia
> (two
> > > of the magazines I know) aren't magazines in any other sense than that
> > > they're published in a magazine format. They don't have a column for
> letters
> > > sent in, for instance. Theosofia doesn't even have a column by the
> editors.
> > >
> > > One issue Preethi is complaining about is valid though: how important
> > > should it be whether people are first, second or third generation
> > > theosophists? (I'm first btw)
> > >
> > > There's a grey line here. It's natural to trust family more than
> others,
> > > but when a family member turns out to not be very good at the job you
> gave
> > > them, they should be replaced.
> > >
> > > At Adyar another issue is also pressing: the issue of caste. Can
> something
> > > be done about the prevalence of high caste Indians in positions of
> power? Or
> > > on other words: is enough done to reach out to lower caste (varna, jati
> > > whatever you want to call it) members of the TS? Does the Indian
> section
> > > even have such members in positions of influence?
> > >
> > > In the West, similarly, are we reaching out to people of color enough?
> to
> > > Muslims? And if we should, how should that be done?
> > >
> > > Those are just a few of the issues I think about when I think about
> where
> > > the TS is headed, or should be headed. I do wonder: what do you all
> think
> > > the real challenges of the TS are?
> > >
> > > I will only promise to read responses to this post, posted here:
> > >
> http://theosophicalsociety.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/challenges-theosophical-society-adyar/
> > >
> > > Katinka Hesselink
> > >
> > > http://www.katinkahesselink.net/
> > > http://www.overpeinzende.nl/
> > > http://www.allconsidering.com/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>  
>


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