An open letter from Anastasia Rosen-Jones, New Horizons Executive Director
Movement, a period of reviewing the past history of the original study seems to be at hand.The following "Love Letter To Possible Human, Possible Society Study Participants" by New Horizons Executive Director, Anastasia Rosen-Jones, June, 2014, excerpted from a correspondence collection of that time, offers a view of what we, at New Horizons, and I, Anastasia, were thinking back then that prompted the original study, initially launched, informally, in 2011 and, formally in January, 2012.
FYI: It was intended that we would interview 400 participants, of various persuasions, by the end of 2016, following the wrap up of the 2016 presidential election cycle.
However, we ceased our interviewing efforts in mid-2016, having interviewed approximately 250 people, as campaigning seemed to become more and more volatile and, thus, a distraction from our overarching objective of overcoming polarization in our country.
By then we had concluded, and rightly so, we believe, that the polarization we were witnessing was an essential part of our democratic process.
Thus, we should, appropriately, back off from that objective, overcoming polarization, for the duration of the election cycle, assuming as we had expected and seen, historically, would "naturally" occur.
We were shocked, however, to experience what would happen in our country this time, with Donald J. Trump, the winner!
Please note: Although I did not especially like Obama in 2008, or even later, by default I voted for him.
The letter below, nonetheless, reflects that at the time it was written, the strong idealist in me was truly hopeful and believing that Obama might just be able to carry forth the light of Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as JFK, whose election had prompted my moving to the Washington, D.C. area, as a young adult, to live and be a part of the aura I anticipated of Kennedy's Camelot.
The letter below depicts this idealism that is my basic nature, in the process of interviewing people, I now believe matched my idealism with their own.
When all was said and done, however, and a few years had passed into the Trump Administration, I came to realize that many others were still being neglected and hurting, badly under Obama.
Also, I came to see that many of the so-called idealists we had interviewed did not even have the necessary skills to truly "walk the walk" of values they represented themselves as having.
They were, in actuality, unable to genuinely carry out the ideals our study represented, believing themselves upholders of principles Gandhi had taught and spoken of, yet incongruent with these in their actions.
We witnessed this, blatantly in some of the workshops we conducted, occasionally quite hurtfully. As an organization, sponsoring this study and our various related public programs, we learned a great deal from this and lost another pound or two of naivete, along the way.
However, New Horizons Beloved Community Development mentor, Murat Yagan, had shown us how to come closer to the "Possible Human, Possible Society" values ourselves, personally and as an organization, even under extreme conditions.
So in spite of some hurts and disappointments, along with the chaos, ever since the last presidential election, we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, finally have found our new path forward and are now ready, willing and able to get ourselves back in the game of "possibilities," in spite of obstacles.
Having said all this, by way of introduction, requesting your patience with me, I offer, below, my, basically, unedited letter, reflecting much of the original background for our study, now about to be updated.
Dear Possible Human, Possible Society Study Participant,
Shortly after Barack Obama’s 2008 election to our presidency I made an extended trip to South America, living among Ecuadorians for the better part of two months, sometimes challenged as I did not speak Spanish.
The majority of people I encountered at this time were of the intelligentsia: psychologists, artists, economists and so forth. Over time, each, in his/her own time, would eventually come around to inquiring about what it might mean to us, Americans, to have elected this particular man, decidedly of African/American heritage.
These questions spurred my own contemplations on the subject. And, because I was in a distant and foreign land, I reflected on this point with the added spice of the views these people offered back to me.
At the time, I was aware of only one or two personal perspectives on this state of affairs.
The first was that after close to thirty-five years away from Washington, although living in the nearby Maryland suburbs, I had only returned one time with joy and hope.
That was when I had ventured into D.C. a few days after Obama’s election.
I was prompted to make this foray because I wanted to feel the upsurge of spirit in Washington, following Obama's election. wishing that the Washington I had loved might rise again.
Although I had been very much engaged in high profile Washington (1965 – 1974), the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated I watched the Washington I loved “burn” from my high rise apartment near the Pentagon.
That day was truly the beginning of the end of my active love affair with our nation’s capitol.
The Watergate scandal finished it off.
Still, one cannot end a serious love affair and just simply walk away.
Thus in 1974, I began what was to develop into a life-long passion to understand the Dark Side of Washington and its affairs. And, to do, with this understanding as a base, what I could to aid the transformation of it. At least, as best as a single, yet devoted and heartbroken idealist can.
My first husband and I had, originally, come, after his college graduation, to Washington for JFK’s “Camelot.” Both of us, also, had remained nearby these many decades later.
While I was not, particularly, enamored or impressed by Obama, I was somewhat intrigued by his platform that seemed rooted in an expansion of a national grassroots’ effort.
With these thoughts in mind I returned, in late December, 2008, to Maryland, from South America, with Obama’s inauguration near.
Having previously discovered the pitfalls of inaugural balls and other similar related revelries, I, happily, observed the happenings from a distance. Yet the spirit of celebration did not pass me by.
And, given that I was, at the time, a lifelong Democrat, I was satisfied for the moment. (In 2016, I registered as an Independent.)
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder at the seeming naiveté of our new president, especially in his perspectives regarding the Washington political game.
After all, I had been a player in it, having served clients in the White House, on Capital Hill and throughout the lobbying community.
Oh, well, thought I, let’s just wait and see. But social activist that I had become, by then, waiting and seeing was not quite enough for me.
That’s when I, first, designed the Possible Human, Possible Society Study, imagining,
from my own grassroots position, as Executive Director of New Horizons Support Network, Inc., that my organization and myself, personally, might help further Obama’s grassroots’ agenda.
Yet, somehow, this idea of mine did not take root very deeply at this time. So I shelved the study and went on to other things.
Then, in July, 2011, with the debt ceiling debates grabbing daily attention with outrageous partisan blaming, hostility and polarization, I came to realize that our country was in an irreconcilable mess.
And, that no one, on either side of the aisle, could or would, competently – and – graciously, lead us out of it any time soon.
At that point, I turned my attentions away, as much as possible, from Washington, once again, taking to the hills (one of which, calling itself a mountain, I live upon, just above Harpers Ferry) to initiate and develop the Possible Society In Motion Project of which the Possible Human, Possible Society Study is the focal point.
From that time on, officially beginning January 1, 2012, I began a new love affair; a love affair with you, the participants of our study, and others such as you, the various and sundry people who make up the regional community, residing within the one-hundred mile radius of the Washington, D.C. White House who may become soon-to-be participants of the Possible Human, Possible Society Study!
From then on, I began asking each and every one of you that seemed interested and appropriate about your hopes and dreams for this country’s healthy future and your perspectives on how we might find our way out of the painful polarization that was overtaking our country, even increasing under Obama's administration though it had, at first, promised hope.
At that point, I asked increasing numbers of people for their personal opinions on how we can grow together and move beyond our differences.
How we could, again, be that one nation, under God, we set out to be. Given that I come from a small town in Ohio this is the view with which I grew up.
Maybe it is the reality of the maturity I have now attained that I realize that the Camelot that, originally, brought me to Washington will forever remain the myth it has always been.
Nonetheless, each and every day I spend engaged with participants working on the study I designed, after leaving this country for a time, I am heartened.
Yet, I have one regret in the carrying forth of this project. I have been unable to adequately communicate on a regular basis with study participants.
You see doing the interviews has expanded my knowing just how very important are the bonds of community-unity that we build with one another. These connections are precious and require care.
Yet, our busy world does not offer us much opportunity for this.
Initially I attempted to call or write participants to keep you updated on study progress, developments and projects. But soon there were so many enthusiastic participants I could not manage this.
Next I tried to post blogs to keep participants informed.
This format, as it turned out, seemed to be both too impersonal and difficult to manage in terms of detailing, even the bare minimum of unfolding and, frequently, inspirational perspectives and personal stories.
After all, who would want to miss out on the “good news” in these trying times?
While we, at New Horizons, strive to improve our communication with you, our treasured study participants, please know the immensity of our/my gratitude for your participation to date.
From the bottom of my heart, as well as the top of my intellectual, research-oriented mind, I humbly thank you for the hope and inspiration your contribution to the Possible Human, Possible Society Study has brought me, personally.
My New Horizons Board of Directors joins me in this expression of gratitude.
The generosity of your personal storytelling in the service of this study your transparency, time and support have shown me the stronger stuff, beyond polarization that we, Americans, are made of, regardless of who it is that sleeps in the White House!
We, the people, shall overcome!
With boundless appreciation for your participation in the study I designed,
Anastasia Rosen-Jones Executive Director, New Horizons Support Network, Inc.
Lead Researcher, Possible Human, Possible Society Study
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