Dear Patch,*
As we discussed, we look forward to working together to launch the “Movement for Men’s Liberation.”
The movement offers a transcendentalist approach, in the Concord spirit, to these realms (visible/invisible) in which we find ourselves, often unbeknownst.
That is: Two questions, simple and to the point, both inspire and guide our deliberations:
1) What does it mean for us to be a man?
2) That said, how do we (men) liberate ourselves from those forces that would use and abuse us, in order to abuse and use our women?
Those “forces” . . . ?
Who hasn’t found themselves saying:
“What got into me?”
“What came over me… gripped me… What possessed me?“
“How do I get a hold of myself?” My self, my True Self?
The Men’s Liberation Circles couldn’t be more simple in their rounding:
1) Men gather in an inner circle.
2) Instead of locking the women out of the room, our sisters are invited to gather in an outer circle and listen in. The movement is about our shared humanity.
3) Someone introduces the gathering. See the two points above.
4) Each man is invited to invite, in turn, another man into the circle “beside” them in spirit: a brother, son, father, friend, who has struggled with this issue of liberating themselves from those forces that would use/abuse them, in order to abuse/use their women.
5) Once the inner circle is complete, someone speaks up and addresses the two questions: What does it mean to me to be a man? And, How have I striven to liberate myself, as noted, from the “powers” noted.
6) Once the first man has spoken, the next is invited to speak and so on around the circle.
7) When all the men who’ve gathered have had their say, they pause, take a break if desired, and return to reflect on the process in whatever way they are moved.
8) When the reflections are completed, the men turn they chairs around to the outer circle and invite response from the women, our “sisters,” who have been granted the opportunity, as noted, to listen into one of the most existential issues that modern men face.
9) As opposed to offering remarks, judgments about their “brothers’ words (“I like this; I didn’t like that”), the women are encouraged to share what they themselves have experienced. That is, our “sisters” are invited to simply share how our words touched, spoke to them, their hearts.
10) A dance together can conclude the session, as one and all are moved:
’Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free,
’Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be.
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.
When truly simplicity is gained,
To bow and the bend (curtesy) we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till be turning . . . . turning we come round right.
Stuart-Sinclair Weeks
Founder, Center for American Studies at Concord
* We are looking forward to the good doctor (Patch Adams) himself joining the Center in taking up this initiative to bring forth circles for Men’s Liberation — a contribution to the healing of our sacred relations in and for our time!
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For more information, contact: Stuart-Sinclair Weeks at info@concord-ium.us