North Sydney

July 14th 1999

This evening started as a modest get together and grew into a very significant conversation for all of us present. 
Ethics in business came into range and a topical session on the John Laws affair got a going over.  General consensus was not favourable.

Some of the issues that we felt needed addressing were to do with rebuilding our sense of community and finding ways of doing that.  A couple of people were really searching for something to DO.  Looking for some way of relighting or generating a sense of values in the community.  Especially needed now that the churches seem to have lost their power to impose these.  Where do values come from?

Ways of supporting a return to community and to live ethically were discussed.
Must first learn to be true to oneself.  And learn to be OK with all types of people.   That is to be in listening and enquiring mode and withholding automatic judgements.

Agreed that coming back to self and being in tune with our own values etc is all very well but will also be worthwhile to take the time to do something beyond our selves.  That is take part in the community action somehow.
A warning expressed that we cannot necessarily solve ALL the worlds problems but mustn't let that be a reason to do nothing.

What do I need to do to express who I am?  What can I focus on locally.
Don't have to know all the steps.  Just do what is in front of us.  Remember the old adage. "When you can't see where you are going, go as far as you can see.   You will see further from there."

The final word was on "Responsibility"
Does it mean, "Ability to respond?"  or does it mean   "Obligation to respond?"

We chose the second one. 

How about you?