Norman
Last week in the gym while changing into a bathing suit I encountered a
young girl crying. I felt an obligation to ask why. She was upset that her
family is in a country that will be drawn into the war. As much as my own
feelings for nephew nearly being lost at WTC site I felt her pain. I needed
to comfort her and say maybe not the right thing but to explain that even on
our own soil we had conflict where families fought families.
It is not easy but we cannot forgot our position it is to listen offer
comfort. We don't have to agree but we do have to extend the hand.
I am a member of Psi Chi and part of the service on induction to take an
oath to serve. We cannot put that out of our heads. Even if that person is
on the opposite. I oppose war  but let tell you all I would kill anyone who
tried to harm me, my family, or take my home from me. On the other hand we
have to understand the other side feels the same way.
I watched a touching story last night on Dateline about Arab children asking
the same questions and the fear and anguish was the same as ours adults and
children.
My former post was the sarcasm " When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
Hurrah"
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: Norman Claringbull <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2001 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: American Situation


> I quite agree that we should use this list for it's true purpose. That, as
> far as I am concerned, is the development of therapy and therapists.
> However, just as some of us have felt compelled to put the case for a
robust
> response to the WTC attack so have others felt the need to put the case
for
> a pacifist one. In that sense, both sides of this debate have misused this
> list. On the other hand, perhaps we haven't. After all, therapists are
only
> a part of society and in my view we should be servicing it not leading it.
> Therefore, I don't find it to be surprising that within our own ranks that
> there are divisions paralleling the divisions in society.
>
> Having said that I do feel that there are some serious issues for
therapists
> arising out of all of this discussion that have been ignored.  I have
> consistently asked two questions, which for me are important. Perhaps
others
> have different questions. I would genuinely be interested in getting some
> comments.
>
> 1) Will the effects of this attack be so profound that we as therapists
will
> eventually have to reconsider our personal values and the base of the
> modelling that underpins our services to our clients? For example, look at
> the profound effects that coping with WW2 and its immediate aftermath had
on
> therapy growth and development in both the UK and the USA. It is my own
> belief that there will indeed be a fundamental shift in therapeutic
> provision and therapeutic theory as a direct result of these events and
the
> coming assault on terrorism. My own research focus is very likely to be
> shifted to examine this proposition.
>
> 2) Why is it, that in this case, the apparent majority opinion amongst
> therapists seems so much at odds with the prevalent views in the nations
> within which most of us live? I can't believe that it is because
therapists
> really do have a greater ability to reach the moral high ground than every
> body else, (even though some postings might be trying to convince me
> otherwise). Another way of putting this question is to ask if therapeutic
> values can prosper if they are in conflict with their host societies?
>
> So, that's my contribution for now. If people want to carry in sending
> flamers or taking "holier-than-though" positions then that's up to them.
> Shooting the messenger won't alter the message. We are supposed to be
> thinkers; let's think!
>
>                                         Norman