In keeping with our new schedule, this Sunday’s meeting on the 30th will not be a regular discussion. As it will be the fifth Sunday in the month we’ve decided to make it an organizational meeting instead.
Cofound began about 20 months ago and has maintained a consistent following ever since. We’ve gone through many transformations but have settled into a comfortable routine of stimulating talk and companionship.
But what lies ahead? Cofound was established in reaction to the powerful social and political trends of our day. The issues are as pressing as ever and we can mark little “progress” in changing anything. But was that ever our goal? Or was it primarily to arrive at ideas and possibilities? And that we have done.
Join us this Sunday, 3 PM at the City Café for casual talk along with the imagining and planning of our next efforts. And stay tuned for our next update about the August 6th discussion.
July 30, 2006
July 16, 2006
Lazy Meeting
Our July 16th gathering was a well-attended outing to Clint Cummins' house. It turned into a pleasant conversation and cookout with friends but not much of a discussion. Consequently, we have little to report about our talk.
So on August 6th we'll mostly just pick up were we left off. We'll scrutinize the authority claimed by majorities to impose their will on the minority. Also to be considered is the eagerness of governments to cite the "will of the majority" in their quest for power. Issues like the war on drugs and the functioning of our prison system stand out as points for discussion.
And as many at the July 16th event were concerned with the current tumult in the middle east, we are likely to address much of that. And if that weren't enough, we think it's time to look at the coming mid-term elections and could touch on them as well.
So there will be no lack for conversation at our next meeting, Sunday, August 6th, 3 PM at the City Café in the Mid City Mall. Join us, won't you?
So on August 6th we'll mostly just pick up were we left off. We'll scrutinize the authority claimed by majorities to impose their will on the minority. Also to be considered is the eagerness of governments to cite the "will of the majority" in their quest for power. Issues like the war on drugs and the functioning of our prison system stand out as points for discussion.
And as many at the July 16th event were concerned with the current tumult in the middle east, we are likely to address much of that. And if that weren't enough, we think it's time to look at the coming mid-term elections and could touch on them as well.
So there will be no lack for conversation at our next meeting, Sunday, August 6th, 3 PM at the City Café in the Mid City Mall. Join us, won't you?
July 2, 2006
Religion, Take 2
Last time we continued our discussion about religion, moving from the personal to broader social and political perspectives. It was observed early on in our discussion that religion is one of many things that can give people an identity - an "in group" to be a part of. This can be an attractive thing, in and of itself, because, as one person put it, "most people want to follow, not lead." While there was some disagreement as to whether this was human nature or learned behavior taught by a patriarchal society, most seemed to agree the observation was basically true.
Some members felt that the American political right wing takes advantage of this tendency of people to be followers, and that right wing leaders use religion as a tool to manipulate people in order to maintain their power. Others saw little difference between the left and the right in today's politics, at least in terms of their desire to control people. Indeed, more than one member had read that many of the currently influential group of people known as "neoconservatives" had at one time hailed from the far left wing of the political spectrum.
One member wondered aloud whether there was anything fundamentally wrong with deeply religious groups and individuals attempting to propagate their values through the democratic process. This lead to a discussion of the difficulty of balancing individual rights with the concept of majority rule. One person felt that democracy amounted to "two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for supper." Another person expressed the opinion that the US Constitution did not prohibit individual states from establishing a state religion, suggesting that greater autonomy for the states in this and other matters would allow for experimentation that might lead to a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.
Our discussion moved beyond religion, too, touching on other institutions viewed as either contributing to or arising from Americans' susceptibility to manipulation. Our educational system, for instance, was felt to be failing, and to either passively or actively limit people's ability to question. Some felt that the state of our criminal justice system and the war on drugs were indicators that we are becoming an authoritarian society....
All these issues and more touch on the basic conflict between the interests of the majority and the rights of the minority (or the individual). Join us this Sunday as we examine this basic conflict, perhaps as it applies to the war on drugs, the overcrowding of our prisons, the failures of our educational system, and more....
On July 16th we'll change our routine with a potluck cook-out at Clint's house in the woods. It's only about 30 minutes away, a little north of Corydon, Indiana. Clint will provide hotdogs and burgers plus all the go-a-longs. Please bring snacks or a dish and whatever special drink you might like. You can meet with others at the City Café at 2:30 to carpool out or come on your own with the directions below. We'll start around three and maybe make an evening of it. And we'll fit a discussion in as well.
Some members felt that the American political right wing takes advantage of this tendency of people to be followers, and that right wing leaders use religion as a tool to manipulate people in order to maintain their power. Others saw little difference between the left and the right in today's politics, at least in terms of their desire to control people. Indeed, more than one member had read that many of the currently influential group of people known as "neoconservatives" had at one time hailed from the far left wing of the political spectrum.
One member wondered aloud whether there was anything fundamentally wrong with deeply religious groups and individuals attempting to propagate their values through the democratic process. This lead to a discussion of the difficulty of balancing individual rights with the concept of majority rule. One person felt that democracy amounted to "two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for supper." Another person expressed the opinion that the US Constitution did not prohibit individual states from establishing a state religion, suggesting that greater autonomy for the states in this and other matters would allow for experimentation that might lead to a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.
Our discussion moved beyond religion, too, touching on other institutions viewed as either contributing to or arising from Americans' susceptibility to manipulation. Our educational system, for instance, was felt to be failing, and to either passively or actively limit people's ability to question. Some felt that the state of our criminal justice system and the war on drugs were indicators that we are becoming an authoritarian society....
All these issues and more touch on the basic conflict between the interests of the majority and the rights of the minority (or the individual). Join us this Sunday as we examine this basic conflict, perhaps as it applies to the war on drugs, the overcrowding of our prisons, the failures of our educational system, and more....
On July 16th we'll change our routine with a potluck cook-out at Clint's house in the woods. It's only about 30 minutes away, a little north of Corydon, Indiana. Clint will provide hotdogs and burgers plus all the go-a-longs. Please bring snacks or a dish and whatever special drink you might like. You can meet with others at the City Café at 2:30 to carpool out or come on your own with the directions below. We'll start around three and maybe make an evening of it. And we'll fit a discussion in as well.
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