第5章 The Two Sides of Power
TOEXPLAINWHEREIhavearrivedinmyunderstandingofpowerandloveandsocialchange,IhavetoexplainhowIstarted.
IgrewupinMontrealandstudiedphysicsatMcGillUniversity.Inthesummerof1981,asIwasfinishingmyundergraduatedegree,IattendedameetingofthePugwashConferenceonScienceandWorldAffairsinBanff,Alberta,whereIheardaspeechaboutthecrucialenergyandenvironmentalchallengesarisingoutoftheincreasingcomplexityandfullness-ofpeopleandideasandthings-oftheworld.Idecidedtoshiftmystudiesfromphysicaltosocialsciences,andIwentontodoagraduatedegreeineconomicsandpublicpolicyattheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley.Aftergraduation,IworkedatavarietyofresearchinstitutionsinNorthAmerica,Europe,andAsia,andtheninthecorporateplanningdepartmentofPacificGasandElectricCompanyinSanFrancisco.
Myfatherhadtaughtmethevalueofindustriousness-ofdoingmyjobwell,whateverthatjobwas-andofself-determinationandself-improvement.HisfavoritestorywasofHenryDavidThoreau,whohadlivedinthewoodsatWaldenPondandaftertwoyearshadcomeoutwithhisaxesharperthanwhenhehadgonein.
Iwasyoungandambitiousandkeentomakemymarkontheworld.
GENERATIVEPOWER
In1988,whenIwastwenty-sevenyearsold,ImovedfromSanFranciscotoLondontotakeajobintheglobalstrategydepartmentoftheenergycompanyRoyalDutchShell.WhatIlovedmostaboutworkingforShellwasthepower.Ienjoyedgettingthediplomaticmemos:"ThegovernmentofCôted'IvoirehasreiteratedtheirrequestthatwedesistfromreferringtothemastheIvoryCoast."Ioncegotamistakenphonecallaskingmewherea$300millionpaymentforafueloildeliveryshouldbedeposited.IlikedShell'spracticalroleinprovidingtheworldwithenergy:thecompanyinvestedhundredsofmillionsofdollarsayearinresearchanddevelopment,drilledforoilthousandsoffeetunderwater,andproducedfuelsbyheatingoilsandsandcoolingnaturalgas.Ireveledinbeingasmallcoginthisbigandimportantmachine.
IwasatShellattheheightofcapitalistconfidence.TheBerlinWallhadjustfallen,theInternetboomwasstarting,FrancisFukuyamahadpublished"TheEndofHistory,"TomWolfewaswritingaboutManhattanfinanciersas"MastersoftheUniverse,"andMargaretThatcherwaspronouncingthat"ThereIsNoAlternative"totheAnglo-Americanfreeenterprisemodel.Thedominantculturalmemewasthatinallspheres-economic,political,social,legal,international,intellectual-acontestamongcompetingpowersproducedthebestoutcome.[11]FrommyofficeinaLondonskyscraper,itseemedtomethatifeverybodyjustdidtheirjobandpushedforwardtheirpart-engagedincivilized,manlyjostling-thewholewouldgrowandprosper.
MyexperienceatShell,andelsewhereintheworldofbusiness,wasofanalmostsingle-mindedemphasisonthepragmaticuseofpower-thekindofpowerthataformerphysicsstudentcouldrecognize.ItseemedtomethatbusinesspeopleunderstoodpowerthesamewayMartinLutherKingJr.did:"Powerproperlyunderstoodisnothingbuttheabilitytoachievepurpose."[12]TheiractionsseemedtoaccordwithPaulTillich'sexplanationofpower'sgenerativeroot:"thedriveofeverythinglivingtorealizeitself,withincreasingintensityandextensity."Thisdrivecanbeseenintheforceofagrowingseed:theforcethat"guerrillagardeners"employtoturnvacanturbanlotsintoparks,whentheysurreptitiouslyplantseedsthatbreakthroughtheconcrete.
AtShellIcouldseehowmyowndriveforself-realization,alongwiththatofmycolleagues,producedfuriouslycompetitiveintellectualcreativityandgrowth.Theheadofourdepartment,AriedeGeus,wroteabookcalledTheLivingCompany.Thishelpedmealsoseehowthecompany'slivingdriveforself-realization,alongwiththatofothercompanies,producedfuriouslycompetitivecommercialcreativityandgrowth.[13]
InallofthisIsawthegenerativeaspectofpower:theuniversaldriveto"getone'sjobdone."Powerexpressesourpurposefulness,wholeness,andagency.Althoughpoweristhedrivetorealizeone'sself,theeffectofpowergoesbeyondone'sself.Powerishowwemakeadifferenceintheworld;itisthemeansbywhichnewsocialrealitiesarecreated.Withoutpower,nothingnewgrows.
AtShellIwasheadofthestrategygroupthatconstructedscenarios-plausiblealternativestories-ofsocial-political-environmentalcontextsinwhichthecompanymightfinditself.In1991,PieterleRoux,aprofessorattheleft-wingUniversityoftheWesternCapeinSouthAfrica,contactedmebecausehewantedtousetheShellmethodologytohelpagroupofSouthAfricanoppositionleadersdevelopastrategyforeffectingthetransitionawayfromapartheid.NelsonMandelahadjustbeenreleasedfromtwenty-sevenyearsinprison,andthenegotiationsbetweentheoppositionandthewhiteminoritygovernmenthadstartedinearnest.LeRoux'sprojectsoundedinterestingandworthwhiletome,andmyShellbosseswerehappy,afteryearsofbeingvilifiedfornothavingdivestedfromSouthAfrica,fortheopportunitytorebuildthecompany'srelationshipswiththeopposition.SoinSeptember1991,ItraveledtoCapeTowntofacilitatethefirstworkshopofwhatbecameknownastheMontFleurScenarioExercise.[14]
WhatIfoundexhilaratinginmeetingtheseleaders-frompoliticalparties,tradeunions,communityorganizations,universities,andcompanies-wastheirpowerfulpurposefulness.Everyoneofthemwascommittedtoaddressing,fromtheirparticularidologicalandinstitutionalbase,SouthAfrica'stoughchallenges,andtheyhadalreadyrealizedthattheycouldbesuccessfulonlyiftheyworkedtogether.WhitebusinessmanJohannLiebenberglaterremembered,withsurpriseandpleasure,hisconversationswiththeblackleaderswhohadhithertobeenhisadversaries:"Thiswasnewtome,especiallyhowopen-mindedtheywere.Thesewerenotpeoplewhosimplysaid:'Look,thisishowitisgoingtobewhenwetakeoveroneday.'Theywerepreparedtosay:'Hey,howwoulditbe?Let'sdiscussit.'"[15]Ifeltexcitedtoplayapartinthisimportantsocialchangeprocess.
WhatIsawintheseworkshops,andthroughthewindowtheyprovidedmeontothedynamicsofSouthAfrica'sextraordinarytransition,changedmyunderstandingofwhatwaspossibleintheworld.Isawthatateamofleadersfromacrossasocialsystemcould,eveninthemostcomplex,conflictual,andchallengingofcontexts,exercisetheirpowercollectivelytochangethatsystemforthebetter.IwasinspiredbywhatIwaslearningaboutthisgenerativepower.
WhatIsawalsochangedmyunderstandingofwhatwaspossibleforme.IsawthatIhadajobtodo-awayofmakingadifferenceintheworld-insupportingsuchteams.In1993,IresignedfromShellandmovedtoSouthAfrica.SincethenIhavebeendoingthiskindofworkthereandelsewhere.
DEGENERATIVEPOWER
Howdowecometonoticesomethingthatwearenotnoticing?Iwasonceworkinginmyoffice,andmysunglasseswereinmyshirtpocket.Iwentintoadarkclosetandleanedovertopickupsomesuppliesnearthefloor,whenIheardasoundthatIcouldn'tplace.AsIwentout,Iunconsciouslyfiledawaythatanomalousevent-theunexplainedsound-andwentbacktowhatIwasdoing.LaterIsawthatIhadmisplacedmysunglassesandbeganlookingallaroundforthem.ThenIrememberedtheunexplainedsoundandrealizedithadbeenthesoundofmysunglassesfallingoutofmypocketontotheclosetfloor.
DuringthefirstyearsafterIleftShellandstartedworkingasafacilitatorofsocialchangeteams,IkepthearingsoundsofasecondkindofpowerthatIdidn'tknowhowtointerpret.MyfirstinterpretationofwhathadhappenedatMontFleur-theinterpretationthatIwasworkingfrom-wasthattheteamhaddecidedthattheirpower,theirdrivetorealizethemselvesasindividualsandasanation,couldmoreeffectivelybeexercisedworkingwithratherthanagainstoneanother.Theyhadusedfourbirdimagestosummarizetheirsharedunderstandingofthedifferentwaysthefutureofthenationmightunfold:an"Ostrich"scenarioofwhitedenial,a"LameDuck"scenarioofanoverconstrainednewblackgovernment,an"Icarus"scenarioofthenewgovernmentflyingtoohightoofast,anda"Flamingos"scenarioofrisingslowlytogether.ButwhenPalloJordan,oneoftheintellectualleadersoftheAfricanNationalCongress,heardthesescenariospresentedatapartymeeting,hethoughttheywereridiculouslynaïveabouttheessentiallyviolentdynamicsofpowerintheSouthAfricancontext."Whatisallthisaboutducksandflamingos?"heaskedincredulously."Theonlybirdsthatmatterherearehawksandsparrows!"
ItisnotsurprisingthatJordanandIhaddifferentperspectivesonpower.Icamefromapeacefulandunfetteredbackground,andIhadencounteredSouthAfricaforthefirsttimein1991,oneyearafterthehopefultransitionalnegotiationshadstartedandseveralyearsafterthehopeless,violentclashesbetweenthegovernmentandtheoppositioninthe1970sand1980s.Jordanisblack,whichinapartheidSouthAfricameanshegrewupasasecond-classperson.HehadspentdecadesinexileworkingfortheAfricanNationalCongressandhadonlyjustreturnedtothecountrytoengagedirectlyinthesetoughnegotiations.Powerlooksdifferenttopeoplewhohavetostruggleforit.
NowIrealizedwhatIhadbeenhearing:powerhastwosides.Thegenerativesideofpoweristhepower-tothatPaulTillichreferstoasthedrivetoself-realization.Thedegenerative,shadowsideispower-over-thestealingorsuppressionoftheself-realizationofanother.Tillichrecognizesbothsides:"Poweractualizesitselfthroughforceandcompulsion.Butpowerisneithertheonenortheother.Itisbeing,actualizingitselfovernon-being.Itusesandabusescompulsioninordertoovercomethisthreat.Itusesandabusesforceinordertoactualizeitself.Butitisneithertheonenortheother."[16]Power-overabusesforceandcompulsiontosuppressoroppressordominateanother.
LikePalloJordan,mywifeDorothyisblackandgrewupinSouthAfricaandwasinvolvedforyearsintheanti-apartheidstruggle.WhenlaterwevisitedGuatemalatogether,shenoticedsomethingthatIdidn't.ThepositionofaboriginalpeoplethereremindedherofblacksinSouthAfrica:theyweretreatedasiftheywereinvisible.Nottoseeanotherperson,ortoseeherorhimasanonperson,istheextrememanifestationofpower-over.
Themostcommonunderstandingofpowerisaspower-over.WhenStephenLukes,aprofessorofpoliticsandsociologyatNewYorkUniversity,wrotehisclassic1974bookPower:ARadicalView,heequatedpowerwithdomination.Butthirtyyearslater,inthesecondedition,Lukesrevisedhisview:"Itwasamistaketodefinepowerbysayingthat'AexercisespoweroverBwhenAaffectsBinamannercontrarytoB'sinterests.'Powerasdominationisonlyonespeciesofpower."[17]Power-overisasubsetofpower-to.
Degenerativepower-overarisesoutofgenerativepower-to.WhenIamexercisingmypower-toandIfeelmyselfbumpingupagainstyouexercisingyours,andifinthisconflictIhavethecapacitytoprevailoveryou,thenIcaneasilyturntoexercisingpoweroveryou.Mydrivetorealizemyselfslipseasilyintovaluingmyself-realizationaboveyours,andthenintobelievingarrogantlythatIammoredeservingofself-realization,andthenintoadvancingmyself-realizationevenifitimpedesyours.
ManywhitesinSouthAfricavaluedtheirself-realizationabovethatofothers,andtheydeployedanideology-apart-heid-tojustifytheirbehavior.Wecanseeanalogousdynamicsacrossracesorethnicgroupsorclassesorgendersineverysociety.Thus,theseductivelybeautifulfaceofpower-tomorphs,asinahorrormovie,intotheviciouslyterriblefaceofpower-over.
OnceIhadseenthetwosidesofpowerstarklyinSouthAfrica,Icouldrecognizethemmoreeasilyelsewhere.AfterIleftShell,IconsultedtoseveralcompaniesandbusinessassociationsinHouston,Texas.IfoundthebusinesscultureofHoustonunusualandfascinating.Thebusinesspeopletherewereunconstrainedintheirenthusiasmforindependent,unregulated,entrepreneurialpower-to.Thecan-dopropertydevelopersImetownedprivatecompanieswithnameslike"JohnSmithInterests,"whichIunderstoodtorepresentanunabashedcelebrationoftheadvancingofanindividual'sowninterestsandpower.
Thesesamebusinesspeoplewerealsoenthusiasticintheirsupportforvoluntaryphilanthropyandcivicengagement.TheyweremoreawarethanpeopleIhadmetelsewhereoftheirroleintheevolutionoftheirsocialreality.Houstonhadgrownfrombeingthetwenty-firstlargestcityintheUnitedStatesin1940tofourthlargestin1990.Ithadbecomewhatitwasnotbyaccident,butastheresultoftheintentionaldecisionsmadebypeoplesuchasthemselves,andtheyfeltaresponsibilitytocontinuethispublicwork.TheideologyofHoustonbusinesspeoplepromotedindividualself-realizationinalignmentwithcollectiveself-realization.
Inthiscommunity,theveryepitomeofpower-towasKenLay,thefounderandchairmanofEnron,the$100billionnaturalgas,electricity,andtelecommunicationscompany.Enronhadbeennamed"America'sMostInnovativeCompany"byFortunemagazinesixyearsinarow,andLaywasadmiredasanentrepreneurialgenius.AtShell,youngstaffwhoconsideredthemselvestobesophisticatedstrategistswereinaweofEnron'sdealmaking.ThecompanywasoneofHouston'sbiggestemployersandcharitabledonors,andithadsponsoredapopularnewdowntownstadium.WhenLayvisitedourHoustonworkshops,theotherbusinessleaderstreatedhimlikeagod.Laysymbolizedthevirtuesofthefreemarketeerwhoseunfetteredpower-toproducedbothprivatewealthandpublicgood.
In2001,IchairedaBusinessLeaders'DialogueattheAspenInstituteinColorado.Amongtheparticipants,whoincludedinternationalcorporate,government,tradeunion,andnonprofitleaders,Laywasthestarwhomeveryonewantedtomeet.Bythistime,storiesaboutEnron'smalfeasancewerebeginningtocirculate.ThemostprominentaccusationagainstEnronwasthatithadillegallymanipulatedCalifornia'selectricitymarket,andCaliforniaattorneygeneralBillLockyerwascallingforLaytobeprosecuted.
Lay'swayofparticipatinginourmeetingwasstriking.Hemovedinandoutofthesessions,whichwehadallagreednottodoandwhichnooneelsedid.Heseemedtoholdhimselfapartfromorabovethegroup.Hewastheonlydissenterfromthegroup'sconclusionthatcorporatesocialresponsibilityshouldbeenforcedratherthanleftvoluntary.Theonlytimeheparticipatedpassionatelywaswhen,withrighteousindignation,hetoldthestoryaboutLockyerhavingthreatenedhimbysaying,"IwouldlovetopersonallyescortLaytoan8-by-10cellthathecouldsharewithatattooeddudewhosays,'Hi,mynameisSpike,honey.'"[18]
Duringthesesessions,onlyoneotherparticipant,atradeunionist,everchallengedLay.Everyoneelseconspicuouslydeferredtohim.IthoughtthatifLaywassopowerfulandwealthy,hedeservedtobelookedupto,andalsothatifIwaspolitetohim,Imightbenefitfromhislargesse.
OneyearaftertheAspenInstitutemeeting,Enrondeclaredbankruptcy,andfiveyearsAfter,Laywasfoundguiltyoftenchargesoffraudandconspiracy.Thecompany'scollapsewipedoutmorethan$60billioninshareholderinvestmentand6,000employeejobs,andledtothedissolutionofArthurAndersen,itsauditor.
Exercisingcreative,entrepreneurial,profitablepower-toisnothardifyoupretend,andareallowedtopretend,thatyouliveinanunregulatedterranullius.ButLayandhisEnroncolleaguesdidnotliveinsuchanemptyworld,andindefraudingmillionsofpeople,theyseverelyunderminedthosepeople'spower-to.Lay'semphaticrejectionofrulesthatgovernthecollective,asmanifestedinhisdisinterest(enabledbyourdeference)inthesmallmatterofourmeeting'sgroundrulesandthelargermatterofU.S.law,illustratedhisdisconnected,degenerativepower-over.
Theirresponsiblepower-overexercisedbyEnronexecutivesforeshadowedtheglobalfinancialcollapseof2008.BusinessjournalistMarkHaineswasflummoxedwhenthecrisisbroke:"Weassumethattheindividualpursuinghisorherownbestinterestwillresultinthemaximumbenefitforsocietyasawhole-andthatcertainlyhastobequestionednow."[19]TheunderstandingthatIhadimbibedinLondontwentyyearsearlier-thatasystemdrivenbythepower-toofthepartswouldproduceabeneficialresultforthewhole-wastragicallyincompleteandinadequate.Beforethisbecameapparent,however,Iwastohaveotherexperiencesthatledmetomycurrentunderstandingofdegenerativepower.
When,afterMontFleur,Ihadstartedworkingondifferenttoughchallengesindifferentcountries-power-overmanifestingininequityandinequality-IcarriedwithmeacertainconfidencethatIcamefromacountry,Canada,thathadsuccessfullyovercomeitsownsuchchallenges.Soin2003IwastakenabacktofindmyselfinaconferenceroomattheDepartmentofJusticeinOttawa,Ontario,listeningtoagroupofleadersofgovernment,business,andaboriginal(NativeorFirstNations)organizationstalkabouttheirencounterswiththerealitiesofaboriginalpeopleinCanada.
Aswewentaroundthetableandheardeachperson'sstory-ofextraordinarilyhighlevelsofpoverty,addiction,andsuicide;decadesofabuseby"well-intentioned"governmentsandchurches;conflictsovertheextractionofoilandothernaturalresources;thousandsofstucklandandtreatydisputes-itbecameobvioustomethatIdidnotcomefromacountrythathadsuccessfullyovercomesuchchallenges.MycolleagueUrsulaVersteegensaysthatourmostimportantlearningscomenotsimplywhenweseetheworldanew,butspecificallywhenweseeourselves-andourroleincreatingtheworld-anew.[20]OnthatdayIsawthatIwaspartofasocietythatwasexercisingaterriblepower-over.
OneaspectofthisCanadiansituationwasthewidelyheldmentalmodelthataboriginalpeopleneededto"bedeveloped."Thismodelhadbeeninstitutionalizedin,amongotherpractices,apolicyofaggressiveassimilationthatsincethe1850shadtakenchildrenawayfromtheirparentstobeeducatedinchurch-andstate-runresidentialschools.OneofthefoundersofresidentialschoolinginNorthAmericacharacterizedhisapproachas"killtheIndianandsavetheman."[21]Residentialschoolingcreatedalegacyofphysical,emotional,sexual,andculturalabuse.BythetimethelastresidentialschoolinCanadaclosedin1998,thispoweroveraboriginalpeoplehadbeenreplicatedforgenerations.
AfterthismeetinginOttawa,Iandafewcolleaguesbeganworkingwithateamofnationalgovernmentandaboriginalleaderstotryoutanewwaytounstickthisstucksituation.Wechoseasourentrypointtheextraordinarilyhighrateofsuicideamongaboriginalyouth:fivetimestheCanadianaverage.Butafterfouryearsofon-and-offefforts,wehadhardlymovedforwardatall.Wekeptrunningintoroadblocks,largeandsmall.Atonepointwewerefrustratedintryingtocommunicatewiththestaffofanaboriginal-runconferencecenter.Icomplainedaboutthistomyfriend,activistMichelGelobter,andhechidedme:"Whyareyousurprisedthatoppressedcommunitiesexhibitseriousdys-functions?Thesedysfunctionshavetoberecognizedanddealtwith;theyreinforceandmaintainoppressionbydiminishingthecapacityofthesecommunitiestoheal."Thedegenerativeimpactsofpower-overareresolutelypersistent.
Ialsonoticedthatwithinourmicrocosmicprojectteam,wesucceededinre-creatingthestuckrelationshipsthatcharacterizedthemacrocosmweweretryingtochange.Thegovernmentleaderswantedtoremainincontrolandto"fix"theaboriginalproblem.Theaboriginalleadersdidn'twanttobecontrolledorfixedordevelopedbyanyone.Andthoseofuswhowereconsultantsdispassionatelykeptourselvesapartfromandabovethesituation.Weallhadourowndifferentrolesandpowersandtrajectoriesofself-realization,whichneverreallymovedandneverreallymet.Sowemadenoprogressonthechallengethatwehadsetouttoaddress.(Onlylater,whentheserolesandpowerrelationswereforcefullyrestructuredandownershipoftheprojectwastakenoverbyalocalaboriginalcommunity,didtheinitiativebegintomoveforward.)
InCanada,asinSouthAfricaandHouston,Ihadbeenabletorecognizethesoundofpower-tomoreeasilythanthesoundofpower-overbecausetheformerresonatedmorestronglywithmyownprivilegedexperience.Thenin2004Igotatasteoftheexperienceoftheundersideofpower-over.MyLondonpartnerZaidHassanandIwereinvitedtofacilitateaworkshopinMichiganforagroupofU.S.minorityactivistswhowererethinkingtheirstrategyforachievingracialequityinlightofthejust-issuedSupremeCourtdecisionthatsharplylimitedaffirmativeaction.
Iwasunsettledevenbeforethemeetingstarted.ZaidisMuslimandIamJewish,andontheplaneridehehadshownmeanarticleinanactivistmagazinethatpointedouthowmanyoftheU.S.neoconservativesareJewish.Healsoshowedmealettertotheeditorthathehadwritten,inwhichheacknowledgedhowcontentiousthisassertionwasbutdefendeditasinformativeandfair.Westartedintoatensediscussion,afractalofthelargerMuslim-Jewishconflict,butthencutshortourargumenttogetreadyfortheworkshop.
WiththisunresolvedtensionbetweenZaidandme,theworkshopstartedawkwardlyandgotworse.TheparticipantswerefeelingbeatendownbytheregressionincivilrightsintheUnitedStatesanddiscouragedaboutthepoorresultstheirexistingstrategieswereproducing.Theydidn'tthinkmyleadershipofthemeeting,withmywhiteandforeigncolleagues,waslegitimate,andtheywereunhappywiththeprocesswewereusing.Harshpowerstrugglesswirledaroundandwithintheroom.EventuallyitbecameobviousthatIwasn'twantedintheworkshopatall,andso,feelinghumiliated,Igaveup.Ileftthegrouptoleaditselfandwentbacktomyroom.
ThatnightIhadaterrifyingdream.Agangwasharassingmemercilessly-crowdingandshovingandhittingme-andIcouldn'tescape.EventuallyIbecamesohopelessanddespairingthatIpulledthepinoutofahandgrenadeandblewmyselfupwithallofthem:Ibecameasuicidebomber.ThroughthisdreamIexperiencedtheterrible,debilitatingfeelingofbeingonthereceivingendofpower-over.
By2008,myunderstandingofthedynamicsofpowerandlovewastakingshapethroughsuchexperiencesandreflections.ThenIhadanotherencounterwithaboriginalissues,thistimeinAustralia.IwasinvitedtoMelbournebyanAustralianaboriginalleadernamedPatrickDodson.Heiswellknownforhisdecadesofvariedstruggles-mobilizations,negotiations,invocations,lawsuits-toaddressthechallengesfacedbyhispeople,andspecificallyforhiseffortstoachievereconciliationbetweenaboriginalandnonab-originalAustralians.[22]Heknowshowharditistomoveforwardonthesechallengesandwasn'tsurprisedbythelackofprogressoftheeffortinCanadainwhichIhadbeeninvolved.
DodsonwantedmetocontributetoameetingthathewasconveningwithJohnSanderson,theformerchiefoftheAustralianArmy.Theyweretryingtoconstructanewsetofagreements(includingconstitutionalamendments)thatwould,morethan220yearsafterthearrivalofthesettlersand15yearsaftertheHighCourtverdictthatoverruledterranullius,puttherelationshipbetweenthesetwopeoplesonanequalfooting.
Theeveningbeforeourmeetingsweretostart,Iwalkedbyanoutdoorcinemaandfoundmyselfwatchingtwodocumentaries.ThefirstwasTheWhitePlanet,afilmaboutarcticwildlifeandthedangersitfacesfromglobalwarming.[23]ThesecondwasKanyini,aboutanAustralianaboriginalleadernamedBobRandall,amemberofthe"StolenGeneration"whoasachildhad(likemanyCanadianchildren)beentakenawayfromhisfamilybythegovernment.[24]InKanyini,Randallarguesthatthecrisisinaboriginalsocietyoriginatedintheirhavingbeendispossessedandestrangedfromthefouraspectsoflifethatareessentialtosurvival:theirbeliefsystemorlaw,theirlandorcountry,theirspirituality,andtheirfamilies."Thepurposeoflifeistobepartofeverythingthatis,"hesaysinthefilm."Youtakeawaymykanyini,myinterconnectedness,andI'mnothing.I'mdead."IwasstruckthatRandall'syearningwasthesameasPaulTillich'slove:"thedrivetowardstheunityoftheseparated."
Inthejuxtapositionofthesetwofilms,Icouldnowseewhathappenswhenweemployourpowerwithoutlove.Ourdestructionofaboriginalsocietiesworldwideandourheadlongrushtowardsthedestructionoftheecosystemsonwhichalloursocietiesdependarisefromourdisconnectionfromoneanotherandfromtheearth.EnvironmentalistJuliaButterflyHillmadethesamepointindescribingherunlikelypartnershipwithsocialactivistVanJones:"Ibroughtthepiecethatwearenotseparatefromtheplanet.Hispiecewasthatweneedtouplifteveryone.Wewerecommittedtoseeinghowthosepiecesfittogether.Wecouldseeunderneathallofitwastheideaofdisposability:theideathatyou'vegotdisposablepeople,adisposableplanet."[25]Ifwepushawayorabandonoursenseofconnectionwithothers-ouracknowledgment,oursensitivity,ourlove-thereisnolimittothesadness,terror,andpainthatouruncheckedpowercanproduce.
Wecanrecognizethisdegenerativephenomenonofpowerwithoutlovebecause,insomanycontextsandatsomanyscales,powerdominateslove.Weseethisinourhomes,organizations,communities,nations,andininternationalaffairs.PatrickDodsontoldmeastoryaboutMichaelLong,apopularAustralianaboriginalsportsmanwhohadwalkedfromMelbournetoCanberratodrawattentiontothedesperatesituationofhispeople.LongmetwithPrimeMinisterJohnHowardandaskedhimtheanguishedquestion:"Whereistheloveformypeople?"Weallfeeltheanguishthatresultsfromthedeficitoflove.
LOVEISWHATMAKESPOWERGENERATIVE
Basedontheseexperiences,then,hereishowIunderstandthenatureofpoweranditsrelationshiptolove.Powerhastwosides,onegenerativeandtheotherdegenerative.Ourpowerisgenerativeandamplifyingwhenwerealizeourselveswhilelovingandunitingwithothers.Ourpowerisdegenerativeandconstrain-ing-recklessandabusive,orworse-whenweoverlookordenyorcutoffourloveandunity.
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