******POSTURE **TRUMPS **POSITION******

These are the excerpts from the session of the technology transitions work-space held on January 15th 2017

​The position and places we find ourselves at in life are not always under our complete control. The posture we maintain at any time or during any situation is totally under our authority. It is important for us to understand that views, votes and opinions are not an accurate reflection of values. When we regard the things said to us or done to us personally, the effect is individual and its impact becomes personal. Offensive words or deeds should be viewed in light of their significance upon all of society. WORDS CARRY SPIRIT! The way we respond to the stimulus of unexpected news and disappointments magnify our reactions to it. Fear mongers will have us succumb to the fragility of an alarmist mentality. That mindset perpetuates a consciousness of helplessness and lack of control. The players and positions may be set, but the posture we respond with is totally under our control. Sometime being unsettled is a part of life. It is are a sentence for life. Disappointments should not decree despair. Our votes are simply a judgment call reflecting our confidence in someone else who we hope may be the best representative of our judgments. We are all a product of our genetics, environment, and teaching. This is a big part of our conditioning and consciousness. We have the responsibility to hold one another accountable for the words expressed and the actions performed. This is the true purpose of criticism. However, any criticism clouded by cynicism is a personally biased perspective. Our integrity is reflected within our posture. Our character is reflected within our conversation. Our beliefs are reflected within our response to adverse conditions. It is easy to place labels on things. Labels are useful for basic identifications but fall short in expressing the complexity of the object defined. Labels create limits. Whenever we feel we've loss, our human nature tends to focus upon the present situation, lose sight of past accomplishments and fear future progress. In reality, it is the past hopes and previous victories that provide us the strength to persevere through new adversity.  

​As the offspring of any race, family or culture; history should enable us to construct our own personal cipher that sees us through the hardest of times. Progress can be stalled but it cannot be stopped. Like “Chicken Little” most exploiters and doomsayers speak words of extremities that excite emotions and stimulate fear. When vocabulary is used indiscriminately or rashly by anyone of influence or authority, it is an abuse of power. Practices that appear effective are mirrored by others. Bad mouthing other people we disagree with only endorses social rudeness. Bullying works by taking advantage of the fragility of another person. Labels create limits. We must speak truth to power with respect. Reaping what we sow is a universal principle whether we believe it or not! Responsible writing and oratory have reliable and verifiable sources, minimize propaganda and quiet rumor. Expressions with extreme words like “totally, completely, overwhelming, disastrous, catastrophic, every, always and never” are the first sign of exploiting delicate feelings. Talking about an issue is always easier than dealing with an issue. 

DOCUMENTED FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES: HERE ARE A FEW

​The earliest traces of the great proverbs which say, “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes,” comes from the Cherokee Indians. The native American Indians, whose land we’ve confiscated, culture almost obliterated, and symbols desecrated have cause to be vindictive. The stories of “Sand Creek” and “Wounded Knee” alone are enough to justify an onslaught of accusations that our conscious would find unbearable. Though not recorded in most of our history books, the facts are indisputable. Yet the posture of most Indians is peace. We can adopt an original African saying that states “if you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.” Although captured, shipped, enslaved, experimented on, assaulted, raped, abused and declared by the original constitution to be less than human, the posture of the African American has been one of reconciliation and forgiveness. It took the thirteenth amendment to right that wrong. “May the road rise to meet you” is an old Irish saying; a blessing, which wishes success for the person it’s spoken to. Yet signs that said “Irish need not apply” were acceptable as was “No Irish, No Blacks and No Dogs.” The overall posture of Irish people today does not reflect the past prejudice inflicted upon them. The largest recorded mass lynching in U.S. history took place in New Orleans in 1891 and it was not African-Americans, it was Italian-Americans. “Dagoes” was the only word needed to be uttered by a dying police chief, and it was enough to round up any man of Italian decent. The predominant posture of Italian-Americans today reflects acceptance and inclusion for all. The Hispanic heritage within this country permeates almost every aspect of our history. It was a group of Spaniards, Afro-Latinos, indigenous people and mestizos setting out from colonial-era Mexico that traveled into California and founded the city of Los Angeles. Look at the posture of this culture and people; generally hard working and respectful.

IMMIGRATION HELPED TO FORM THIS NATION AND CONTINUES TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE  

America has a proud tradition as an immigrant nation along with a long history of marginalizing those we label as “others.” If we research the history of this country for the past two and one half centuries and we will find fear, hostility, neglect, persecution and abuse leveled against multiple waves of arrivals. The American dream is a position of achievement invented by others and visualized by the masses. Our posture is a standard of achievement that should be fair and inclusive. Our personal dreams should include the overall significance we have on society. That is the true definition of success. It was only thirty years ago when our American president Ronald Regan urged Mr. Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” Now we accept the rhetoric and consciousness that as a country we need to build a wall between non adversarial neighboring countries at peace. If we build one between the U.S. and Mexico, isn’t it only “fair’ to build one between the U.S. and Canada too? We get to choose our own individual posture.  Whether we elect to sit up straight in our chair or slouch our backs is up to us.  Power doesn’t shift away from us, it is surrendered by us. We can react in fear or patiently respond through understanding the fears of others. There is always a cause or causes for the place we find ourselves in. Through unity and self-empowerment, we have the means to effect change rather than simply watch it. We should not be afraid. The greatest threat we face feeling alarmed without feeling empowered. The "voice" of moral authority is destined to prevail over the letter of legal authority and the decisions of judicial authority. We should all understand the power of self sustainment, self help and self preservation. Shake-ups are good. Wake-ups are better! Change initially always meets resistance. Crisis generally creates change. Progress is inevitable. Most people are not aware or prepared for it. We now have the opportunity to band together, become more interdependent and combine our efforts and resources. It is incumbent upon us to create a future that is inclusive and benefits all. Stay engaged, stop worrying! The greatest country on earth has no need to become “great again” just greater. Democracy, determination and versatility are three of the greatest attributes working for us. Don’t sell us short. Look how far we’ve come as a planet, as a species and as a people. Examine world history. Despite the carnage and atrocities committed by men against men in the name of power, politics and religion, we have advanced and evolved!