NFA

New Findhorn Association

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • HOME
  • Services
  • Events
  • Groups & Projects
  • Organisations
    • Dunelands North Whins
      • 1 Duneland North Whins: Historical and Nature Connection
      • 2.2 Duneland North Whins: Administration – Formal Documents: Sales Criteria. Deed of Conditions
      • 3 Duneland North Whins: Projects & Proposals
    • Ecologia
    • Ekopia
    • Findhorn Flower Essences
    • Findhorn Hinterland Trust
    • GEN
    • Moray Carshare
    • New Findhorn Directions
    • Park Ecovillage Trust (PET)
    • Phoenix
  • Members
    • Membership
    • Individual Members
    • Member Organisations
  • About
    • About the NFA
    • NFA Constitution
    • NFA Council
    • Listener-Convenors
    • NFA Council Minutes
    • Eight Leaf Ecovillage Model
    • Evolution
    • Common Ground
    • Whole Community Purpose
    • NFA Privacy Statement
  • Contact
    • Visit Us
    • Findhorn Community Bed & Breakfast List
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / 5) Respecting Others

5) Respecting Others

1 September 2016 by Stephen Couling

RE-Juicing the Common Ground with Rowan Duczek

I wholeheartedly respect other people – their differences, views, origins, backgrounds and issues. I respect all forms of life and the Communitys and other peoples property.

I have thought about the above and have to admit, NO, I do not wholeheartedly respect all others. There are some, whose personality, views and actions I wholeheartedly despise. It is interesting, however, that these tend to be people I do not know personally,  I know ABOUT them from the Media; politicians here and abroad, certain so called ‘celebrities’,  or Business people, for whom self-aggrandizement and greed are the main focus for action.

And there are times in my life, when I did not respect other people’s property and I stand by that. I remember the taking-down of 8 miles of military fence at the Greenham Common Base together with thousands of women and the elation when the fence collapsed like Dominos. I believe there are situations when actions against property are justified, and – who knows – I might feel called again to Direct Action in the context of the complex Trident Issue.

When it comes to ‘all forms of life’ I am afraid the slugs, who have decimated my Hostas are dealt a blow with Slug Pellets, while I do carry snails to the neighbouring field. And I feed the stray cats that have adopted my garden, in addition to my own five furry beasts.

Thankfully, ‘Hate’ is not an emotion I am familiar with, but I am no stranger to frustration and exasperation. I remember an incident with my daughter.  While the dinner was on the table, she took a phone call against her mum’s wishes. The call took a while, she listened, talked and joked before she put the phone down, while I sat in front of my plate, getting more and more frustrated. When she finally returned to the table and happily tucked into her now lukewarm dinner I asked, who – on earth – she was talking to? “Oh, just some Call-Centre guy, asking for money for a Charity.” On my suggestion just to tell ’em to ‘buzz-off’ and put the phone down, I got ‘the Look’ and a lecture. “Mama, some of my friends worked in Call-Centres. It’s a shit-job. People are aggressive and verbally abuse them. What’s the problem with being friendly and polite? They are people, too, you know.” That was me told off, and – of course – she is right. I vowed to change my ways. This is now some 5 months ago and never ONCE did I receive a Call-Centre call since then. Well, point taken!

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Useful links

  • HOME
  • NFA Next Steps
  • Call for Ideas July 2023
  • Local Place Plan Group
  • Membership
  • Bed & Breakfast list
  • Contact

© 2005–2023 New Findhorn Association · All Rights Reserved