Belonging is such a vital topic! Whereas simply "being" can be viewed from an individualist perspective, "belonging" is inextricably relational, and that is a good sign for its connection with experienced reality. For me, some deeper issues here were raised both by my going to open days at https://commonshub.brussels/ and digesting that in the Quaker Meeting yesterday. My reflections aren't fully formed yet, but find some focus around the issues of balance between, on the one hand, offering what is felt like a safe space, where those who have been marginalised can be seen and heard (and therefore are likely to feel a sense of acceptance and therefore belonging), and on the other hand, allowing the agenda and narrative to be monopolized by that minority interest; while also encouraging those who are timid to speak up. Too much belonging for one interest group can lead to a sense of alienation for others who are aligned differently. Something to do with finding middle ways between boldness and humility; between support and challenge; between "safety" and openness… I'd love to explore this more deeply.
Belonging is such a vital topic! Whereas simply "being" can be viewed from an individualist perspective, "belonging" is inextricably relational, and that is a good sign for its connection with experienced reality. For me, some deeper issues here were raised both by my going to open days at https://commonshub.brussels/ and digesting that in the Quaker Meeting yesterday. My reflections aren't fully formed yet, but find some focus around the issues of balance between, on the one hand, offering what is felt like a safe space, where those who have been marginalised can be seen and heard (and therefore are likely to feel a sense of acceptance and therefore belonging), and on the other hand, allowing the agenda and narrative to be monopolized by that minority interest; while also encouraging those who are timid to speak up. Too much belonging for one interest group can lead to a sense of alienation for others who are aligned differently. Something to do with finding middle ways between boldness and humility; between support and challenge; between "safety" and openness… I'd love to explore this more deeply.
See also https://wiki.simongrant.org/doku.php/d:2024-03-22 and https://wiki.simongrant.org/doku.php/d:2024-03-24 from earlier this year
Now written a bit more at https://wiki.simongrant.org/doku.php/d:2024-09-30