Subject: Defintions of transpartisan
Date: Sat, Apr 19, 2014
Msg: 100937
This is for the Definitions of Transpartisan thread:
One thing I find in all "transpartisan" conversations is empathy for those with whom we are speaking. I'm wondering if this is an essential ingredient? And if so, how do we develop more empathy in our society?
As transpartisans, we begin conversations (not debate) around the topics...and with empathy we look for and discover solutions that are not possible from a debate, compromise or win/lose perspectives. This breaks down all the labels (even from the quadrant model of Chickering/Turner) and focuses not only on what is valuable to each of us, but to what our desired, shared outcome will be.
For instance, the topic of how big or small government should be could be framed more broadly about how do we envision living our own lives and what is the ideal balance between the needs of individuals, communities and perhaps the planet / environment which sustains us all. What would a government need to be to support the lives we want to lead?
Another component that I am exploring is the ability to move beyond or transcend the attitude of victimization by "the other" on an emotional level. What does it take to realize we are co-creating the society within which we live? How can we stop being victims and start being citizens?
Debilyn Molineaux, Managing Partner Living Room Conversations debilyn@livingroomconversations.org ############################
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