The whole point of free speech is not to make ideas exempt from criticism but to expose them to it.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Dixon de Leña: Cultural Creatives, Part 2

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dixon T. de Leña, Integral Partnerships LLC

In the post below, Steve Sibson checks in with his opinion that "Cultural Creatives" is just another word for "Progressives." (which is just another word for... well, if you know Sibby, you know the rest, right?)


Anyway, Dixon de Leña knows better, and sent us a reply that warrants it's own thread.


Thanks Dixon!


Here's what deLeña had to say:


In order to avoid "pig-piling" Steve I'd much rather encourage him to follow links to a summary of our most recent Cultural Creatives values study administered by TNS, world's largest survey research corporation and completed by Paul H. Ray in March, 2008. A few of the top-line results might interest Steve are:


51.70% say Very or Extremely Important is: wanting to be involved in creating a better society than we have today

73.40% agree: We have a moral duty to protect all God's creatures from extinction

71.75% agree: It is our sacred obligation to care for God's creation

70.50% agree: I see myself as a citizen of Planet Earth as well as an American

Some of the top-line results in the Values and Ecology sections of our 200+ questions/statements survey can be found here.


What isn't always clear to people (or pollsters) is that our Cultural Creatives research scans for the deeper values, not opinions, of adults in the U.S. To quote Paul, "Values are the deepest and slowest-changing indicators we can measure with surveys, and worldviews are almost as deep, while attitudes and opinions are closer to the social surface of life, more superficial, labile and faster to change. Values and worldviews are said to be 'deeper' when they are part of who we think we are, are more strongly held, matter more to how we live our lives, and are more a part of our personal ‘systems of meaning and important life priorities'."

With this said, the 3 Cultural Creatives surveys (1994, 2000, 2008) have shown that a growing percentage of people are living, buying, voting and running businesses, etc., from a unique set of values that is neither Right, Left, Modern Business or the Mushy Middle - but out-front creating a potentially Planetary culture. Also, let's get one thing clear - not all Progressives think in Planetary terms.

Over the past few years, in the US and across Western Europe and Japan, a set of independent surveys by different research teams, has found that Cultural Creatives are 33-37% of adults, averaging 35%. What goes with that research finding is a parallel realization: This is an emerging planetary culture. The values and worldviews of Cultural Creatives all around the planet are much more similar to each other than they are to the people of their own particular countries. The emerging planetary values and worldviews are converging across nations to create a ‘trans-modern’ culture. That is, it can cut across the rancorous conflicts and divisions among peoples and religions to integrate modern and traditional values with something new that’s still in process, still emerging. It’s a wiser culture, one that supports the people more than elites. It’s a surprising new basis for planetary integration, and for creating a sustainable world. It's the potential for a more peaceful Planet.

It's also important to notice that our survey showed that 72% of Americans now see themselves as citizens of planet Earth as well as Americans. There is movement in the collective consciousness toward planetary awareness, planetary concerns, and not just globalization of an economic kind, but planetary integration, at precisely the same moment in history when the whole planet is threatened by climate crisis.

This "collective consciousness" that gently drives more and more people to live Cultural Creative values, virtually undetected by the Modern mainstream media, and furthermore, without Cultural Creatives even knowing each other exist, is quite remarkable. I'd venture to say it might well be a manifestation of a Higher Power. However, this power can not be claimed by any one god, church or institution. As I like to say, it's just us human beings showing up at our greatest.

Sorry for the lengthy post.

Dixon T. de Leña, CEO/Founding Partner (with Paul H. Ray)
Integral Partnerships LLC
www.integralpartnerships.com
Dixon's Blog: www.culturalcreativesinleadership.wordpress.com


14 comments:

[aaron] said...

In the last paragraph, I would change "Higher Power" to "Omnipresent Energy".

I think a lot of my fellow "cultural creatives" might agree.

Btw, how does one know if one is a "cultural creative"?

[aaron] said...

Perhaps I should have read down far enough to see the "How to tell if you are a Cultural Creative" quiz below?

Bill Fleming said...

Good work, Aaron.

BTW, the "Higher Power" phrase is understood as a significant, meaningful, life-saving "code word" by a broad demographic swath of millions of people worldwide who share a common... um... cause.

For these folks at least, one would be hard pressed to come up with a more (to them) suitable term, but you're welcome to try, of course.

I'm just sayin.'

Les said...

73.40% agree: We have a moral duty to protect all God's creatures from extinction---unless it is the unborn??

51.70% say Very or Extremely Important is: wanting to be involved in creating a better society than we have today--but not ambitious enough to get off their can and do any more than squeal like the pig referred to above.

71.75% agree: It is our sacred obligation to care for God's creation==as long as it is you and not me giving up my 6 bath 8 bedroom house and cars and boats and.

70.50% agree: I see myself as a citizen of Planet Earth as well as an American==no s**t, very philosophical group.

I love the poll, it is just like getting volunteers to help drink the beer.

Of course if I had fully read and understood(me bad) the lengthy statement, maybe I would have a different take on it. Dixon, a man of few words is usually much more understood and respected.

Bill Fleming said...

Not really like you to take a bunch of cheap shots like that, Les. What's up? Burn your toast this morning or something?

Les said...

Bill, I try not to take cheap shots. Sorry you feel that way. I feel you understand me enough to know that I also try not to stray to the wings. If you could break my statement down and explain the cheap I would love you for that Bill.

Les said...

As well when we speak of Sib, many times his words do not communicate what I believe is Sib's true nature. Those of us who are always perfect in context though may not appreciate Steve for who he truly is. (Perfect is not me and Bill I am not pointing at you either)

Bill Fleming said...

Well, Les, I for one would be hard pressed to imagine a more "perfect" Sibby than Sibby himself.

Although, I suppose there may be a master design for him out there somewhere, against which Mr. Sibson is just a rough, "looks-like/sounds-like/works-like" prototype.

Now that would be pretty much the "Platonic" view, if I'm not mistaken.

Bill Fleming said...

Cheap shot list for Les:

1. "unless it is the unborn??"

Any mention of this one way or the other in either of the CC posts, Les? If no, why do you bring it up? Are you making assumptions? I would imagine feelings about abortion are mixed among the CC's just as they are among the other American cultural groups.



2. "but not ambitious enough to get off their can and do any more than squeal like the pig referred to above."

Who are you talking about here? Are you saying that a full 35% of the US population is lazy? The point of the post is that these ARE the people who ARE "off their cans, making a difference." Again are you presuming something that's not in the posts?


3. "As long as it is you and not me giving up my 6 bath 8 bedroom house and cars and boats and..."

I don't have a house like that Les, do you? If not then this is a cheap shot isn't it? Again are you presuming something that's not in the posts?



4. "No s**t, very philosophical group."

A cheap shot on its face isn't it?



5. "...it is just like getting volunteers to help drink the beer."

The poll is about values. Do you share any of the values? If yes, then of course the poll would seem simple to you. That's the whole point.
Cheap shot, and I think you know it.



"Of course if I had fully read and understood(me bad) the lengthy statement, maybe I would have a different take on it."

True. Your one saving grace, Les. A well placed disclaimer. Thanks for your honesty here.

6. "Dixon, a man of few words is usually much more understood and respected."

I don't know what this means, Les. Do you know Mr. de Leña? If not, is this the way you usually speak to people you don't know, first time out? I'm thinking that's cheap shot #6.

But not to worry.

Look at it this way, Les:
At least you got one thing right.

And one out of 7 ain't bad...

...is it?

Les said...

73.40% agree: We have a moral duty to protect all God's creatures from extinction
I took this to include the human race Bill, obviously it does not as this is not the percentages on ballot issues protecting the unborn. I guess you and I may not agree a fetus is a creature?

Who are you talking about here? Are you saying that a full 35% of the US population is lazy? The point of the post is that these ARE the people who ARE "off their cans,
My opinion was on the 71.75% taking care of God's creation. They look out at us in rural America from their concrete and asphalt world and want to tell me how to run my property as if they know something I don't. 71.75% of the people in America don't give any more of a damn about creation than to say,"Yea I want to help". Tell me 71% of the people are well versed on politcal issues and then in the same breath tell me to believe they have studied God's creation enough to be solvent in their thoughts Bill. I'll give you a possible 33% care about God's creation. Only God knows how many of us will actually do anything beyond caring.

"No s**t, very philosophical group."

A cheap shot on its face isn't it?



I can give you one here Bill on my choice of words. The poll statement of 71% agreeing on the sacred obligation reminds me of a self evaluation. I truly wish our Country had the deep rooted values of our ancestor's, sorry I don't believe we do.

The poll is about values. Do you share any of the values? If yes, then of course the poll would seem simple to you. That's the whole point.
Cheap shot, and I think you know it.
Yes Bill the poll is about values, unfortunately people without values replying to a poll about values will skew the thing to high heaven.
Do you know Mr. de Leña? If not, is this the way you usually speak to people you don't know, first time out? I'm thinking that's cheap shot #6.
No Bill, I do not know Dixon. I would agree after consideration this is a cheap shot and hand Dixon an apology for that moment of thoughtlessness on my part! I do not agree that all I have said should be viewed as cheap shots and feel that you have an emotional tie to something I am not aware of. Different day, maybe I will see things differently Bill, after all isn't that what this blog is all about? Just sayin :-)

Bill Fleming said...

Just keepin' it real, Les.

You're always welcome to say what you think to me.

I think you know that.

And yes, that's exactly what the Forum is all about.

Exactly.

Now about that toast this morning, pardner...

Les said...

Yea know I love you brother Bill. As I listen to the third Air Lifeflight head down 85 to pick up another fallen biker, I count my blessings and pray for his,her's!

Bill Fleming said...

Love backatcha, Les.
Take good care of your heart, man.

Neal said...

Humans are in no danger of going extinct, Les.

Not saying that life isn't sacred, and not making any comment on the abortion debate -- just saying that your argument there isn't on point.