Hi Friend,

Thanks for this post. I personally think some changes are important, and even imperative. Right now I find the forum layout confusing and I am really only able to keep up with those forum topics I search out and participate in. I could use some visual organizational help.

From the perspective of an Integral overview I would say we are in a critical time, and must participate in a greater dialogue with our culture, other cultures and the social systems that run our world, more often than not in a dysfunctional condition, as well as the consciousness that can shed light on all those – in 2 words a Global Dialogue. For example, Al Gore, thankfully, is focused on a crisis, Global Warming, but as we know Global Warming is only one part of Integral Sustainability. There are many other problems regarding sustainability we must look at to grow as a society. It requires a full AQAL overview, which some in the community are working on, and we absolutely need to hear more from them.

Your idea of a forum for literature, philosophy, etc is great. I see no reason why the topics can’t be formatted in an Integral user friendly manner. “Book reviews” are fine by me, like Amazon does it. We can’t all read everything, and though Ken might be at a doctoral level in 24 fields, I’ll be lucky to achieve that in the equivalent of one field. Actually, I would like a weekly or monthly leading list from Ken, what he is finding current and valuable. I disagree with you when you say “people don’t want to come read a theory about Integral.” Well, yes they do, but that may not be all they wish to do, so a full spectrum approach is ideal. As far as the theory, do we really understand the 8 modes of inquiry, including Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, and Autopoiesis? Maybe not, and I'm not saying we all have to become conversant in all that, to be Integrally aware, but the theory and methodology is still very rich for dialogue.

Personally, I like the idea of Integral Peace as another entry into Global Dialogue, because it includes looking at conflict interactions, solutions, and transformations, both politically, socially, and culturally. In addition it has a pragmatic social vehicle in the proposed Department of Peace for the United States cabinet. And it would be hard not to dialogue seriously about a new political outlook in the era of a Barack Obama and his aspirational approach.

Anyway, that’s more than 2 cents worth…

Jim