OTHER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS -- B Arthur M. Jackson
Copyright 2001, 2003, 2006
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6. CENTER FOR MASTERING LIVING (CFML)
A CFML must be established as part of a Center for the Practical Application of Wisdom to work with all who are dissatisfied with themselves, or society. A CFML would have numerous activities aimed at helping a given person master every barrier keeping them from becoming an Enlightened Person. It would be a resource to help interested persons understand how the universe works. It would be focused especially toward those in the midst of dealing with a real problem such as: earning a living, establishing or maintaining a love relationship, focusing their life in a constructive direction, achieving desired skills and education, etc. There is a great need for such an organization since we now have no social institution that is available to help individuals become their best self and avoid those paths that move them in other directions. This is perhaps one of the greatest needs of our society. At one level or another everyone is a lost sheep wandering around in the dark. This has been true since the evolution of the language ability. Sadly enough those who claim to be shepherds are more lost than almost anyone else. (They are not only on the wrong path they are committed to their error in such a way that correcting it is almost impossible.)
The part of this organization working with law-breakers or potential law- breakers would work together with existing criminal justice institutions. However, its long-term goal would be to develop sufficient support to change existing laws and criminal justice institutions [9]to make them congruent with a Science of Ethics. (See VOLUME II, Chapter 22, "A Close Look at the Criminal Justice System.") [11]
The primary challenge would be to provide positive, effective alternatives to help the person deal more effectively with life. Because we currently have no organizations based on a Science of Ethics it should not be surprising that effective, helpful organizations are so rare. There are few contemporary institutions that come even close to being able to cope with the problem of crime. Almost none recognize criminal behavior for what it is.
Crime is actually a symptom of either an individual's problem, a social problem, or both. For an individual it might be rooted in having been raised in an abusive or exploitative family, or one providing insufficient bonding and/or support. It can come out of misdirected efforts to satisfy the alpha male drive. Or, it may be a self-destructive reaction to stress, or a bio-chemical imbalance. Once crime is recognized as being not only the problem of society, but also the problem of the very persons who manifest it, then there is a chance for improvement. For an individual, criminal behavior is almost never a solution to a problem. Rather, it creates bigger problems. Therefore, in most cases the need is not to guard society from individuals but rather to guard individuals from their own beliefs and behavior.
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Any organization working with alienated individuals in an attempt to eliminate crime would need to have the type of reputation for help that would encourage persons with problems to come voluntarily for assistance. To achieve the foregoing, individuals would have to be convinced that the organization was trying to help them and that they were of intrinsic value to society as persons not just because of the problem they caused by their behavior. Under the foregoing circumstances many people would come for aid before they reached the ultimate in alienation and began to murder, steal, rape, commit suicide, abuse drugs, etc. One activity might incorporate the ideas and procedures invented by Dr. Hank Giarretto in Santa Clara County, California in the early '70s. (See, VOLUME II, Chapter 23, "Children's Sexual Abuse Treatment Program.") [12]
People who did not come of their own volition might be channeled by concerned citizens, or even through the criminal justice system.
7. A PLACE FOR KIDS (APFK)
A Place For Kids would be a Home set up to take care of orphans, as well as unwanted and abused children[13]. It would embody procedures designed to achieve the Tenth Way of Wisdom (Ensure that every child is provided a loving, nurturing environment, and all the things necessary to become an Enlightened Person.) These Homes must be open to experimentation in all directions. Currently opinion, particularly among liberals, tends to say that a child can receive the love and care they need only within a family. However, it is clear that the issue is not this simple. For an interesting look at some of the forces that drive our current opinions on orphanages and custodial childcare see, "Public Policy and the 'Wicked Stepmother'" [14]
8. THE COMPUTER CONNECTION
Individuals and families often move to a metropolitan area because they value the cultural opportunities there: opera, theatre, museums, sports, libraries, universities, and the thousands of other resources possible when wealth and population come together.
However, up to this time there is a problem. The very complexity that makes variety possible also forms a barrier. In every major city in the world, but particularly in the U.S., vast numbers of people sit alone and lonely because the mechanism for connecting with others who share their core values or important interests do not exist. Lack of adequate channels makes it difficult for persons to meet and develop fulfilling relationships in spite of the myriads of individuals living in the area who share similar core values, concerns, interests, dreams, etc. (See VOLUME II, Chapter 5.A, "Intimacy and a Science of Ethics.")[15]
The above condition is one of the challenges for any who would work to build a better world, a place where people have the love and support necessary to live the good life. Today, fortunately, we have a resource that has not existed before -- the computer. With proper use of computers it would be possible for individuals to connect with those who share key interests. The foregoing might allow persons to spend the bulk of their time experiencing what we all need most -- nurturing, and learning/teaching interactions with others who value us and who we value.
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Obviously, one of the needs we are most aware of is the desire for a mate, or a lover. Almost everyone feels a longing for someone to intimately share his or her life and interests with. (See VOLUME II, Chapter 7, "Romantic Love and a Science of Ethics.") [16]This need is felt most intensely when an individual lacks close friends. But most people experience a desire for many kinds of human contacts. Different persons feel the need to share different areas of interest: intellectual and/or social conversations and thought, a particular interest such as playing cards or chess, perhaps physical activity such as jogging, golf, or other sports, dancing, poetry, star gazing, politics, etc.
With the proper effort each of these things should be available if not always, at least often enough to significantly enrich one's life. Developing such networks should be a key goal of a Center for the Practical Application of Wisdom.
The Knowledge Bank (See VOLUME II, Chapter 19, "The Knowledge Bank") [17]would be a primary resource for helping individuals connect to fill social needs. It would be a central tool of the Computer Connection, and possibly provide the motivating energy to establish it.
This organization would gather all the known information in the world and in so far as possible have it indexed and available through internet or something comparable. This would ensure that all information necessary to develop an Enlightened Community and to become an Enlightened Person would be available in the best form circumstances permitted.
All of the organizations that would make up an Enlightened Community would be tied into the Knowledge Bank to gain assistance in doing as well as current knowledge permits. In addition this Knowledge Bank would provide much of the glue that would hold an Enlightened Community together. It might be one of the initial structures to start the growth of an Enlightened Community.
It would also be a primary tool in helping persons deal with their practical problems, and fundamental needs. One such need is the desire for a companion to love and be loved by. Because of the complexity of this problem in the modern world the Knowledge Bank might be very useful. Large cities attract many people not only because they offer a wide variety of jobs and professional activities but also because they offer recreational, cultural, and leisure activities. But best of all an urban area offers an almost infinite range of interesting people to meet, form friendships with, and even marry. However, in spite of this potential many people spend a lonely life because up to this time no way has existed to search through this potential richness and make the actual contacts in a way that has a high probability to succeed.
And, each person’s CTRES (Computer, Tutor, Recorder, and Expert Systems) would provide a powerful tool to tap into the larger computer system developed to deal with this issue.
As the "computer dating" project builds and develops experience and success it could, step-by-step, be expanded to bring in other needs and interests: sports, entertainment, special interests, etc. But the idea would be to also add the dimension of community so persons would not only bond one-on-one, but in groups so there is genuine social integration.
9. THE RADIO LINK
Centers for the Practical Application of Wisdom must do everything possible to help all human beings feel bonded to all other human beings. This bonding should be aimed at solving every problem individuals have. One such aid would be for each person to have a device for communicating (such as a micro-radio) with which they could call in case of trouble. If their ship went down at sea, rescue forces could home in on it and locate them, likewise if they were lost in the wilderness, or buried in a cave. This device would be capable of saving many lives of those who are lost and die before they can be rescued. Perhaps, its signal could be modified by brain waves. When the person was "brain dead" rescue forces would know that their efforts need not be pursued as frantically. Some might think nine billion radios linked to brains would be impossible. However, the future has more to promise than the past or present can even imagine!
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10. CORPORATION FOR UNIVERSAL EMPLOYMENT (CUE)
Just as analyzing ethics helps to get to the core of what it means to be a Modern Human the same is true of "employment and jobs." With the evolution of the "language ability" there was a need to have both employment and ethics function very differently to fulfill their essential roles. (See Chapter One; VOLUME II, Chapter 15, "The Hunter-Gatherer and a Science of Ethics;" and Chapter 34, "Work and a Science of Ethics" for more on this.[18]) The foregoing chapters include important ideas about work. This not only provides a way to better understand the deeper elements of employment, but provides a valuable tool to understand what this book is really about.
Chapter One shows how Modern Humans have been in a transitional mode since the language ability changed fundamentally the relationship between the individual and their society. Where before meaning of life was in the genes and the cultural element was very limited, afterward meaning of life had a significant cultural component (because of memes) and there was no user's guide available showing how to utilize this cultural component. Moreover, it was not possible to truly achieve a meaningful life within the context of a sustainable belief that life has meaning within the limitations of existing cultures. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle that worked for millions of years was no longer adequate. It is only now that enough knowledge and experience has been accumulated to have the possibility to envision the image of a new "stability." Helping humanity achieve this new dynamic equilibrium is the aim of this book.
Part of the foregoing will require us to triumph over the devastating, smothering, staggering ignorance that characterizes current human life. Contemporary social models are so mis-focused they leave us clueless about what is really going on. Currently individuals are more interested in what happens after death than how to live a high quality life on earth. Or, how our life can be enriched by our active involvement in enhancing the life -- now and in the future -- of all the members of our species. There is at this time no cultural vision and/or mechanism that can guide us toward properly utilizing our "wisdom" potential.
An essential part of such a vision would be to advance social and individual prosperity. That would require creating a way to more satisfactorily harness the revolutionary possibilities of industry and manufacturing to enhance human living. Such a cultural vision would be a primary goal of Centers for the Practical Application of Wisdom because one of their primary responsibilities would be to build Enlightened Communities made up of Enlightened Persons. The Corporation for Universal Employment would provide a way for each person to transform their labor into wealth. This would be done in such a way that every person would be able to participate within the context of a sustainable human culture.
One part of a Corporation for Universal Employment would work with anyone having a problem of any kind related to employment. Part of this process would involve connecting persons with a CFML (Center For Mastering Living) if there were any life problems keeping them from recognizing their potential and responsibilities. Their educational level, talents, experience, etc. would be tested. And where these needed upgrading, necessary referrals would be made. All the help necessary to find satisfactory employment would be available.
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If no satisfactory jobs were available or if the person wanted to explore new options they would be able to join a Production and Planning Unit. A Production and Planning Unit would bring a wide assortment of people together. As a result the combined skills and interests would permit existing needs of society (even those not yet fully recognized) to be handled in a way satisfying for everyone. Some of these Production and Planning Units might consist of only one individual. Others could consist of hundreds of persons with the potential and plan to grow to include thousands of workers.
One part of a Corporation for Universal Employment must provide volunteer consulting services to help each Production and Planning Unit master the steps necessary to have a productive, profitable business.
Another section of CUE should work with Production and Planning Units to actually provide office space to help them get underway. This section might follow the model of the business incubator. VOLUME II, Chapter 34, "Work and a Science of Ethics," [18] provides more material on this point. In spite of the hundreds of years of experience with corporations and thousands of years with urban industry we have not yet utilized the potential of industrial development to help construct a sustainable human culture, an Enlightened Community. The incredible idea of establishing such a process has not been explored at the essential level although socialism, communism, and communes have this goal in mind. However, socialism and communism focused their effort too far from the core problem (achieving a Sustainable Belief that one's Life Has Meaning) and were based on an erroneous analysis of social and industrial realities. Communes were set up on the hunter-gatherer model and lacked the necessary structures to move members toward achieving their "wisdom" potential. But humanity now has the possibility of taking the critical step and utilizing the powerful social invention of corporate manufacturing and industrialization to allow an ever increasing number of people to achieve a Sustainable Belief that their Life Has Meaning. The foregoing resources are essential to create societies that are congruent with the needs of Modern Humans.
But (as discussed in more detail in Chapter One) it is my firm conviction that the "tribal" propensities, especially the dominance/submission and us/them drives, are primary road blocks that need to be overcome in order to allow all persons in society to benefit from the fantastic potential of manufacturing and industrialization. In corporations as in all social institutions group politics coming out of dominance/submission and us/them propensities lead to all kinds of distortions in human behavior that mis-use, fail to develop, misdirect human potential. A key goal of Science of Ethics is to avoid these stress-producing behaviors. When this is done it should be possible to utilize the human potential available in corporations in a way compatible with producing Enlightened Persons and Enlightened Communities.
11. CENTER FOR THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF WISDOM NEWS GROUP (CPAW-NG)
One of the first groups a Center for the Practical Application of Wisdom should establish is a news group. This group would work to promote the ideas of a Science of Ethics by establishing its own magazines, newspapers, and radio/TV components. It could thereby ensure that the Center for the Practical Application of Wisdom activities and analysis of the news would be available in every community.
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12. HEALTH CARE CLINIC (HCC)
When circumstances permit a Center for the Practical Application of Wisdom should establish or support existing health care clinics so as to help members achieve the Sixth Way of Wisdom: Work to be physically and psychologically healthy[19]. This would allow them to achieve and maintain good physical health in order to live in congruency with the aims of an Enlightened Community and to become Enlightened Persons. (Also, see VOLUME II, Chapter 20, "Health, Medicine, and a Science of Ethics.") [20]
Important resources used by a HCC would include the Knowledge Bank and each individual's CTRES (Computer Tutor, Recorder, and Expert Systems).
13. REGIONAL PLANNING AND COORDINATING INSTITUTIONS
There would be various Regional Planning and Coordinating Institutions set up to work on long range plans for humanity in general but more especially for a particular geographical or economic region. Its primary concerns would be related to the Second Way of Wisdom: Seek to maintain and develop humanity. It would deal with issues related to society's growth and development so that changes are not introduced until they have been thoroughly studied and it appears that their long-term benefits will outweigh the harmful effects. Obviously, this is an impossible task that cannot be done perfectly since there are no unmixed blessings. However, if we keep clearly in mind that the goal is to allow an ever expanding percentage of the population to achieve a sustainable belief that their life has meaning, we at least have a way to measure our successes and failures and to make the changes that we are able to. (Also, see VOLUME II, Chapter 28, "Managing Change in an Enlightened Community.")[21]
14. ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF LABOR
Fair treatment and opportunities for every person is a critical part of an Enlightened Community. Productive work is an essential part of this process. When such a Community truly exists these issues will be dealt with directly. However, in the developing stages it will probably be useful to establish an organization to work with unions and other worker organizations to solve problems standing in the way of developing an Enlightened Community made up of Enlightened Persons. Part of the goal would be to help employees be as productive as possible while developing their humanity.
Above are some ideas about organizations to get the process of thinking about this issue started. These are presented as working hypotheses. Obviously, no one can truly lay out all the structure needed to develop and maintain an Enlightened Community. Practical experience will be essential as steps are taken to reach necessary goals. However, we need a way to focus experiments, and data gathering so that the process can be started. As in all aspects of Science of Ethics results are the criterion by which everything is measured. And results mean helping more and more persons achieve a Sustainable Feeling that their Life Has Meaning.
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CONTINUE CHAPTER THREE -- A .
1. OEQHL (Organization to Enhance the Quality of Human Living) is pronounced "equal." Its goal would be to ensure that the frontiers of scientific discovery are being pushed in all areas of science to ensure that knowledge and understanding are developed as rapidly as desirable.
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NINTH WAY OF WISDOM: Work to increase knowledge and all creative and artistic endeavors. Adopt an inspiring goal.
SECOND WAY OF WISDOM: Seek to maintain and develop humanity.
THIRD WAY OF WISDOM: Seek to understand. Pursue knowledge and Wisdom.
3. VOLUME II, Chapter 32, "Science for Everyone."
4. UNCOMMON SENSE, Alan Cromer, p. 148, Oxford University Press, New York, 1993.
5. NIRIUA-I (New Ideas, Revolutionary Insights, and/or Unique Answers - Institute) is pronounced "near you, eye." Its goal is to provide a channel so anyone can get ideas into the society in such a way that they can be used in so far as they have merit.
6. Knowledge Bank, a resource of the Computer Connection, having the goal to provide all the world's current knowledge, literature, ideas, speculations, history, cultural information, etc.
7. VOLUME II, Chapter 30, "Education in an Enlightened Community."
8. MATHEMATICS FOR THE MILLIONS, Lancelot Hogben, p. 273, W.W. Norton, New York, 1951.
9. In an Enlightened Community what would be considered a "criminal act" would be very different from what is now so defined. See AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS IF YOU DO, Peter McWilliams, Prelude Press, Los Angeles, 1996 for some ideas that would help focus these changes.
10. Modeled on the lines of Sisters of the Road Cafe, Portland Oregon.
..... See their how-to book, DINING WITH DIGNITY, A Manual For Non-Profit Cafes, $30, 133 N.W. Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97209, (503) 222-5694, 1994.
11. VOLUME II, Chapter 22, "A Close Look at the Criminal Justice System."
12. VOLUME II, Chapter 23, "Children's Sexual Abuse Treatment Program of Santa Clara County (CA)."
13. See VOLUME II, Chapter 4, ("Nurturing Touch and a Sustainable Belief that one's Life Has Meaning") for an essential component of life required by every child.
14. THE HUMANIST, Michael A. Pawel, M.D., p. 16-21, American Humanist Association, Amherst, NY, January/February 1995. (Washington, D.C., as of 2001.)
15. VOLUME II, Chapter 5.A, "Intimacy and a Science of Ethics."
16. VOLUME II, Chapter 7, "Romantic Love and a Science of Ethics."
17. VOLUME II, Chapter 19, "The Knowledge Bank."
18.
Chapter One, "Humanity's Goal Can Now Be Seen."
VOLUME II,
Chapter 15, "The Hunter-Gatherer and a Science of Ethics."
Chapter 34, "Work and a Science of Ethics."19. Sixth Way of Wisdom: Know and endeavor to improve yourself; work to be physically and psychologically healthy.
20. VOLUME II, Chapter 20, "Health, Medicine, and a Science of Ethics."
21. VOLUME II, Chapter 28, "Managing Change in an Enlightened Community."
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