Hi David,
that helps me make sense of a very nice recent experience overseas in
Germany, at a gathering of Germans, where my broken/spoken German
clearly identified me as non-German. They knew I was from Australia,
obviously white, and someone enquired where my ancestors came from. I
replied: England, Scotland, Ireland and Germany; which is a very
typical mix for 4th generation Australians. "Ah, so you're European!"
one replied. I had never seen myself as European before, and I
suddenly felt a deep sense of belonging. I am still Australian, but
now I am also European, and I really feel that to be so now.
One hundred thousand years ago in Africa lived a man and woman from
whom all of us are descended. Even though it seems somewhat
intellectual and theoretical to me I think this genetic scientific
truth can never be over-emphasized. Any other human identity must
then be a sub-identity, a differentiated identity if you like, from
this universal one. I would say that our task is to integrate our
multiple individual identities back into that original shared genetic
identity.
Meanwhile, if only I could get along with my brother...
Best regards
Chris M
On 22/01/2009, at 4:37 PM, david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Dear Dan,
In your recent posts about Gaza etc, I notice your identification as
Jewish. I don?t mean to criticise this, of course, I feel admiration
for you when the way you talk about this, but I just develop a theme.
This made me think. I don?t identify myself as Christian. I think of
myself as Australian. That is my main identity. I think my admiration
for you Dan is actually my projection of my tribal/religious parts
onto you.
But now to my point.
I went to the Collective wisdom conference series last year in
Wurzburg, the theme was about our multiple identities, as a way of
healing conflicts between peoples. It certainly had a big impact on
me.
I wonder what happens if we connect with our non-tribal parts, like
Man, Woman, Father, Mother etc. I think this was the point of the
Conference, if we can connect with our multiple identities then we
become less conflictual and safer with each other.
They showed the program in Australia over Xmas about the day Xmas
broke out on the Western Front in WW1. When the opposing troops came
together on Xmas eve to break the ice they showed each other their
photos of their loved ones and then the troops connected as husbands,
lovers, brothers, fathers, sons etc, and not so much as Germans,
French, Scottish or English.
I think we have discussed this before in this forum. So Constellations
are a good place to notice these multiple identities. Instead of
perpetrator, there is also father, brother, or son, the list goes on.
I think that this is also how Jimmy Carter broke the ice in a Camp
David meeting with Israeli and Egyptian leaders. He showed pictures of
his grandkids.
All the best
David Mathes Melbourne and Guangzhou.
