A Spectacular First Night Out!

An open letter to the Civil Society Supper Club

Dear Civil Society Supper Club,

At your dinner meeting, this past Friday, I presented a platform of perspectives, based on present day personal experiences, projects in motion, now, at New Horizons, the non-profit I head, and throughout our beloved community. I had every anticipation that my having the opportunity to introduce these at one of your weekly dinner events would be the venue to, in essence, publicly launch the next initiative of New Horizons’ Small “Zones of Peace,” the “Beyond Gender Tyranny” Project. 

I also thought your evening event would be a proper setting to openly discuss what is going on with me, personally, behind these efforts.

You did not disappoint me. In fact what I experienced and took away from our dinner discussion exceeded my hopes and dreams.

Mission accomplished!

For me what happened Friday evening in a cozy back room of the Mi Rancho Grande Restaurant in “smallish” Frederick, Maryland was spectacular!  Grande!

From that experience, I came away knowing that my/our next step for the "Beyond Gender Tyranny" project/movement is, definitely, to create and recreate, again and again, exactly what was accomplished that evening; consciousness-raising!

I know I experienced it then and there. And, believe others did too. I have experienced this before at your dinner events, not being the evening’s presenter. It is a testimony to your Civil Society Supper Club that you accomplish this, again and again.

I was so happy even, awed by what we created, with my contribution!

The willingness and the capabilities of each and every person present to take up threads of what I offered on a culturally volatile issue, sexual harassment and abuse, now surfacing from every corner of our society, and handle the topic in a fiery, passionate, yet civil, non-defensive manner was truly inspiring. 

As most of us know, today, these are critically important issues to which to give voice, to explore and seek new and better ways than we presently have. Throughout there are numerous obstacles to finding and implementing these ways.

And while the most “highly refined” applications of the “art of dialogue” still remain for members of this group to develop, at their highest levels, I did witness, every effort – and – the successful realization of the dedication to civil discourse to which this group is committed.

I applaud all of you.  And, thank you, most wholeheartedly for the gift of my being with you – and – having the opportunity to present my platform to you, in a setting that left me truly inspired for what lies ahead for me, as Executive Director of New Horizons, carrying forth our “Beyond Gender Tyranny” project in the fullest, most successful fashion I can.

I look forward to your inviting me back again for more of the same; an evening of dining and dialogue that I believe has every potential to help build what our Beyond Gender Tyranny project stands for – 

Forming safe community spaces that provide opportunities for generating consciousness raising experiences for men and women who want to overcome today’s gender divide based on a heartfelt desire to –

• Mend the broken fences of male-female relationships; 
• Build bridges of compassion and understanding.

To expand on the issues raised on Friday evening, but not yet discussed to their fullest, I wish to invite any one of the following members, one by one, of your Civil Society Supper Club to join me on my online radio show, Anastasia The Storyteller, for further dialogue on the following issues.  

(On Friday evening we were getting a bit into debate, which was a start, but did not yet go  as far as need be on the following critical issues. Each one of them being of an essential nature to be discussed thoroughly on to way to building a better culture for our children and ourselves, supported by our greatest wisdoms  –

• J – A grandfather expressing concern on the subject of how today’s young girls, dressing to show off their bodies, are potentially, dangerously inflaming the lust of men.
• L – A substitute teacher taking up the counter side of J’s issue; how and why today’s young women are intent on granting themselves the freedom to express their fullness as females, without taking responsibility for male lust

• M – seeking clarification on the appropriate “rules of thumb” for conduct for today’s males toward females, from many different angles.

• N – Just because I think she truly “got me” on the issues and obstacles my Ethics Complaint is raising for me.

• I – Because she is a multi-faceted woman of wisdom that I would love to talk with further, by way of  encouraging her express her perspectives to my listening audience. 

Each one of the above issues are perking inside my mind. Each one of these individuals brought me something indelible to consider. As potential topics for my forthcoming radio shows, I would like to give each an airing, in the true style of authentic dialogue, rather than debate fashion, each issue deserves, along with inviting call ins from listeners.

On Friday evening we were just beginning to get below the surface on these gender related issues in a fashion that is so much what-we-don’t-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-#Metoo.

Also, on Friday evening, at your dinner event, I participated in an experience that I considered the “almost” best of what a civil society is capable.

Thank you so much for inviting me to be your evening's "table talker."

Sincerely,

Anastasia Rosen-Jones

Executive Director

New Horizons Small "Zones of Peace" Project