I have a simple idea for changing attitudes and consciousness

[shiftmonkey]

Originally Posted by historycircus

Bikers and Hippies have been doing that for years brother, makes people very uncomfortable. Gonna' take more than a label switch for consciousness to change - probably gonna' need some big global event to jolt us out of our sleeps . . . .

Yeah... it's the hippies I live among. To say that it makes people uncomfortable is a sweeping statement. It might make you uncomfortable but not all people. It does not have a negative effect on me at all. I rather like it... maybe because I resonate with it and the people that I am around use it with honesty. I think you are right about the masses needing more of a jolt but I won't discount the idea just because it's on a small scale. Little things when added together can make a big difference. It certainly fosters good feelings within communities and social groups.

[WineHippie]

Originally Posted by shiftmonkey

Yeah... it's the hippies I live among. To say that it makes people uncomfortable is a sweeping statement. It might make you uncomfortable but not all people. It does not have a negative effect on me at all. I rather like it... maybe because I resonate with it and the people that I am around use it with honesty. I think you are right about the masses needing more of a jolt but I won't discount the idea just because it's on a small scale. Little things when added together can make a big difference. It certainly fosters good feelings within communities and social groups.

well, i live(d) amongst "hippies", too, and we never
called each other brother and sister - nor did we use
mr., mrs., miss, some of the more militant among us
may have started to use ms., i am not sure..... we called
each other by our first names or nick-names...
***
what i remember more distinctly is that we hugged a lot
back then, whenever greeting or bidding adieu.... i liked
that part of that reality
***
as far as jolting the masses, i don't know what it will take
since there is so much out there already - we will see, eh?

[Spiralmind]

I have had many years dealing with the psychiatric world and they have a technique called cognitive therapy which says that if you change a behavior, you can alter your thought patterns. This also works in reverse.

[Halvor]

Originally Posted by Spiralmind

I have had many years dealing with the psychiatric world and they have a technique called cognitive therapy which says that if you change a behavior, you can alter your thought patterns. This also works in reverse.

It is also called "fake it until you make" and it is a formula with lots of supporters and also some detractors, I should think.

[Halvor]

Originally Posted by shiftmonkey

I love this idea. I actually live in an area where many people address each other as brother and sister. I find myself doing it at times if I am among the right crowd. It totally lifts my spirit when someone addresses me as brother.

Right, I think the key thing in this is to raise our awareness of the desirability of addressing our fellow human beings thusly and make an effort of doing it as often as we can. By that I mean, we shouldn't attempt it towards people who are not likely at all to be receptive or appreciative of such a gesture, and we shouldn't feel bad about not doing it there and then either. Also, when we are among a crowd where this is comme il faut we do it naturally and hopefully, in time, automatically. Where we can make the world change is being a "proselyte" among the more ordinary people, i.e. use the terms when we don't feel we're just "doing as the Romans do" but where our action may make people reflect on "how cool it is that he just called him or her brother or sister". In order to be able to "live the gospel" like that in real life one would probably have to bolster one's motivation and intrepidness. Methods for doing that might be hanging around people who inspire you or meditating on doing it (intent).

[THE eXchanger]

Originally Posted by Spiralmind

Very simply:

We begin referring to ourselves and each other as "Brother" or "Sister" or "Earth brother"/"Earth sister" or "Spirit brother"/"Spirit sister"
Instead of:
Mr. or Miss/Mrs.
I think if enough of us do this for long enough, perceptions will change.

"WE" is a 'key word' ~ it engages all of you,
to return to completness, fullness/and, wholeness...

along with the 'we' all in a team

when we all work together ~ big stuff occurs

[mudra]

Maybe perceptions have already changed Spiralmind.
Looking back at your words " Mr . , Miss or Mrs " it strikes me how these terms are lacking any spiritual substance and how far from the sense of Oneness they bring us.

Thank you for bringing it up brother

Love from me
mudra

Originally Posted by Spiralmind

Very simply:

We begin referring to ourselves and each other as "Brother" or "Sister" or "Earth brother"/"Earth sister" or "Spirit brother"/"Spirit sister"

Instead of:


Mr. or Miss/Mrs.

I think if enough of us do this for long enough, perceptions will change.

[Earthian]

Originally Posted by mudra

Maybe perceptions have already changed Spiralmind.
Looking back at your words " Mr . , Miss or Mrs " it strikes me how these terms are lacking any spiritual substance and how far from the sense of Oneness they bring us.

Thank you for bringing it up brother

Love from me
mudra

No doubt they lack LIFE in them. Mr, Miss or Mrs are I believe commertial terms which we adopted as a "polite" way of calling each other. If You are in court, "they" call You that because they really adress the CORPORATE(dead, no life ) body Mr/Miss/Mrs SMITH not You the living, breathing Man/Woman.

[Céline]

What a great idea...

i have always seen every human as a brother or sister.

i can already sense a change in attitude around me.. in society.

the anger that was present a few years ago seems to be abating ..

There is a sense of belonging that is developing.



To all my Brothers and Sisters, i love you.

[housemouse2]

the subject matter, if I am correct, is changing titles for the benefit of more peaceful, loving world.

Though it's a nice idea and many do prefer the title of brother/sister to Mr. Mrs. Miss, Ms. I would have to decline the offer. First there are other cultures in the world and Mr/Mrs isn't always used.

Also, I don't call my own brother and sister...brother or sister...I call them by their given names. There is no reason not to call a person by their given name.

When addressing a mass of people then their are a number of suitable options depending on the subject, the talker and addressee. In a church is rather acceptable to use the term "Brothers and Sisters." For everyone in the church considers them self a child of god and thus everyone is brothers and sisters. In a family sense.

Which brings me to one of the reasons I do care for relabeling titles of Mr/Mrs/Miss to brother and sisters. It's sounds like a church gathering.

I see no reason not to simply call people by their names. the titles were used to differentiate status in the relationships. Mr Smith was traditionally the head of the family. Mrs. Smith was the co-pilot. Miss Smith indicated an unmarried woman or girl. Ms Smith indicates a women who chooses not to disclose her status.

Some people, such myself would find it rather insulting to be called "sister" for I am a mother and homemaker and I earned that title of Mrs/Ms. I can choose either title unlike my poor hubby who is stuck with just Mr.