Various Philosophical groups tour the communities of The Cities and towns regularly giving presentations and answering questions. One day a group came to the community where we were staying. The meeting was in the park over the road and had a fountain and a soft drinks bar. Security was heavy outside the park to protect the community. Everyone was searched going in but there was some laughing as daughters had to check their own parents and sisters. There is much emotional awareness and community knowledge in security and it is 6 years since the last bomb attack. Around 200 people attended sitting in the woods at least 80% of whom were women. Some of the women had their head scarfs on, some not.
Our interpreter was explaining in English what the woman giving the initial presentation was saying. She started off immediately with “We are not here to solve your problems”. The various organisations here do not see themselves as a Nation State or Government. Our local friend added “This society started off as just a bunch of friends on mopeds driving around talking about the importance of friendship, and it got really big. It’s still just a group of friends though”. The presentation went on to discuss many philosophical topics including family and women, community autonomy, love and friendship.
At the end of the presentation, the group invited questions. A woman asked: “The price of sugar has become very high. My family is rich and can afford it but my neighbors cannot. What should I do?”
“Increase your friendships with your neighbors.”
A farmer asked: “The Network has made it illegal to drill more than one well on farm land, but I cannot water all my crops now! What should I do?”
“Improve your friendships with the farmers around you.”
A woman asked: “Why is The Network trying to prevent child marriage? What is the problem with marrying my daughters very young?”
The answer was very long and concerned the consciousness of women as full humans instead of being property, and their new role in society. The group explained later on to us that women always ask this question at every presentation.
The Teal Diary 