The heart of the matter...

[irenicspace]

In a recent post, ash93 suggested the creation of a position or committee within the OTO that would “hear, review, and make recommendations on grievances from members” of the MOE. ash93 states that the MOE members, when coming in conflict with those of the lovers or hermit triad often get the short end of the stick or the case gets whitewashed. ash93's solution

Comments

From enough experience ...

[leroy484]

to know, I have to say that I would much rather that we did sweep things under the rug. If you had participated as a member of a GT - I think you said you had not; if I'm wrong, my apologies - you would have found yourself learning things about your Brethren that you'd probably rather not ever have heard about. By the time things get to the GT, they should have been preceded by attempts to work things out face-to-face, then within the Local Body, then with the assistance of the local Chapter. If all of these stops did not work out to the complainant's satisfaction - and that is important, that the person lodging the complaint must be dissatisfied through every step of the way to even get to the GT - things will get really interesting at the GT level. One or more SGIG's will get to ask every embarrassing question they can come up with of all parties even remotely involved in the situation. Then the GT will meet and mull over all points of view, not just that of the complainant. Finally, the GT will make a recommendation

Excuse the misconception.

[leroy484]

No, I'd rather not learn those things. In fact, I'd rather they not be the case. Nevertheless, it's the Cup I've chosen to drink from. But I don't have to like the flavor.

As to the truth - thank you for the small "t" - well, when every side has their own contradictory truth, it becomes a very dirty job sifting through it all in order to determine who, if anyone, is in the wrong. No one I've worked with on these cases has come away pleased with the results. The best we can hope forrom is to do our best in making our determinations.

Re: Excuse the misconception.

[irenicspace]

No, I'd rather not learn those things. In fact, I'd rather they not be the case.

Then why burry your head in the sand? Why not work diligently to change this and not take second best? Isn't the OTO worth it?

The other problem is a conflict of values/principles. No one really knows that the values of the OTO are. One might think secrecy is paramount where another thinks transparency is. Until USGL starts making definitive statements about principles and starts backing them up with actions and modeling (like addressing the issues and not sweeping them under the carpet) we will continue to have people do as they will and try to justify it and call in favors from friends to get off the hook.