HPN empowerment
Donald Bokor (boko7751@uidaho.edu)
Thu, 22 Jan 1998 14:51:10 -0800 (PST)
Dear HPN,
You know, maybe this is what I don't like about the Net, and in
consequence HPN. First, I want to admit that I am no better educated than
those on this list. Also, I am not more compassionate toward humans than
anyone else. Lastly, I do not have any more experience with homelessness
than the rest of you. But what I don't like about the Net is that people
use it more for communication (if not exclusively) than for production and
distribution.
With respect to HPN, what I mean is that it reads a lot like a newspaper
with headlines, opinions, and announcements, which is fine for a homeless
person with free access to the Net and who needs to communicate with other
people. Yet, how many homeless fit that bill. If HPN has let's say 10-20
regular contributors, then it seems to me that the vact majoority of
homeless do not have acces to the Net. Either that, or HPN is doing
virtually nothing to satisfy the needs of the homeless. Now remember that
this is not a criticism of HPN (at least not in a derogatory manner), but
it is a critique for the purpose of focalizing on a mission statement for
HPN.
The best way to tackle the problem of a mission statement for HPN is to
ask yourself, "What do I want to do for the homeless?" Next, we need to
examine all of our responses to that question in order to find
commonalities and divergences among the HPN members. We need then to
explain what each of us are doing towards achieving our goals. And
finally, we need to establish a board of directors where HPN members can
oversee the progress of activities that they think will help us accomplish
our goals. In this way HPN can be treated like an organization which
empowers HPN members to direct their actions towards the empowerment of
teh homeless. By becoming a board of directors which hold virtual board
meetings on the Net, we can use the Net for more than just communicating
with one another.
Maybe my faith is human organization is unwarranted, but I prefer to think
of my anarchism not as a rejection of human organization, but as a
rejection of those human organizations that have failed humanity. So, I
may be a revolutionary and radical, but my goal is to empower the homless
by putting in their hands the tools needed to build the infrastructure
required for the construction of homes. Does anybody else have the same
goal? Is anybody else willing to work with me on such a project? Because
if anybody else is ready to help me create this organization, then we will
have to get into action, if for no other reason than to fund Tom for his
continued efforts.
Peace and Love Always (All Ways)
Donald W. Bokor