I went to
San Antonio last month for the 14th Annual Forum of the
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. San Antonio is an experience like no other. While I was strolling down the River Walk, I
heard my name called and saw it was Ryan Martin of Nelson heading to the
Buckhorn Saloon from whence I had just come.
There are hundreds of dead heads on the walls of the Buckhorn, and the
real Bonnie and Clyde getaway car is on display, complete with tons of bullet
holes. I also attended a gun rally at
the Alamo where for two hours citizens could wear their guns openly and did not
have to conceal their weapons while they talked about how they could wear their
guns openly if only they broke away from the United States and the constitution
which prohibits them from wearing guns openly.
There were hundreds of loaded assault weapons in people’s hands, kids
meandering about. It seems so strange to
me that Americans feel the need to protect themselves from Americans. When I asked one young man with an automatic
assault weapon what he plans to shoot, he said, simply, “Everything.” San Antonio is wonderfully Mexican, beautiful
and warm, although I note today only it is only 4 degrees there. I rode a long horn steer and was in an
armadillo race. This was my 9th
IACP Forum. It is always so rejuvenating
to spend time with like minded professionals from 25 countries. The theme of the forum this year was “The
Power of Collective Wisdom”. It was a
very powerful gathering. One speaker in
particular had a big impact on me when she spoke of conflict being a gift of
evolution. She described how we get
excited and motivated when we disagree with another, and that stimulates change,
evolution. I was introduced to a short
You Tube film called The Children’s Fire, which has been imprinted on my mind
forever.
