Moral dilemma

[sabrinamari]

Is there any group I will not talk to about my research? Am I willing to do book talks to any group that wants to hear what I have to say, include marketers?

The original deal I made with the women I worked with is that I would do everything in my power to tell their stories as widely as possible, so that their concerns and best interests would be attended to by decision makers in health care, policy and social service circles.

Based on this, if I am asked to speak to a group of pharmaceutical companies, do I say yes or no?

I really have to think about this. Today, I said that yes, I would go speak to such a group if asked. I laid out my agenda, which is ultimately to help facilitate the transformation of our urban health care system so that vulnerable minority women and men living with HIV (and other severe chronic illnesses) can thrive.

At this moment, I think it's important to speak my truth as widely as I can, within reason.

But do I trust that what I have to say will have always have the positive impact I desire? I have to think about this carefully.

My book is publicly available, and it offers the core of what I learned to everyone: it conveys all my key central messages, transmitting them through the medium of personal stories.

But...is there anyone to whom I will not speak, and/or any reason to refrain from speaking?

What would Pema say about this? What would the Dalai Lama say about this?

I need to pull out the Tao te Ching.

I have to think.

Comments

[arielmn.livejournal.com]

I am running around cooking like mad for tonight's feast, so I may not be tracking well. What negatives might come from talking to Pharma companies? I think this is a good opportunity for you to enlighten people on how their actions *do* have consequences that are felt and noticed.

[wgseligman.livejournal.com]

It's possible to tell someone "I love you" and they'll perceive it as a message of hate. You can't control someone else's perceptions or actions. All you can do is act with peace and honor, and hope that others will follow the model you offer.

You have an important message. You've already arranged so that others will see it. Why should marketers at pharmaceutical companies be excluded? They may react as if it were a new money-making marketing opportunity, but you don't know that, nor are you responsible for their reactions.

Tell the stories of those struggling women to anyone with ears to hear. Let others react as they will.

It seems to me that some teacher or other spoke to me about "differentiation." It had something to do with not allowing others people's reactions affect you. Who was that teacher? I'll send you her name if I remember it.

[showingup.livejournal.com]

If you were considering changing your message to give them the impression that they don't have a moral obligation to use their influence for the greater good, I'd worry. I don't think that's likely.

For me, an important question is: are you in a place where you feel able to maintain your integrity and the integrity of your message in an atmosphere you can't guarantee will be receptive to it?

Whether or not you feel up to it at this time is no indicator that you will or won't feel up to it some other time. We all need to ensure that we're living sustainably, so checking in with yourself about whether your internal resources are set up right for any activity at X moment in time is always good - and it's always value-neutral.

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

If there is truth in your message, then you should speak to whomever it is that will listen. You have no way of knowing in advance when your words will find someone whose heart will resonate with your message.

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

Also, you never know. You will be speaking to people... people with hearts and minds. Perhaps you will plant a seed, or nudge someone just a little bit- and change their heart, change their life.

[bobby1933.livejournal.com]

I think your hesitation might be: can you speak truth to power with out power corrupting that truth, using that truth to enhance its power and perhaps doing even greater injury to the people you promised to help. Can something you say in your presentation be used to inflict further injury on Puerto Rican women with HIV?

I understand your reference to Taoism, perhaps not so much Lao Tse, but Chuang Tsu had a lot to say about giving advice to the powerful. Do it very carefully, without expectations, and only when you are fully at one with the Tao. Don't do it for ego, but i can see from your entry that you are way past that. (Yay!)

[spiffnolee.livejournal.com]

Is there anyone more in need of hearing these stories?

Who would not benefit from hearing you speak?

I would decline the invitation to participate in the Comedy Central Roast of Rush Limbaugh. Likewise, if Laura Shlesinger invites you to speak to the joint meeting of the Society for Immigration Reform and Wall-builders Union, that might be a good night to wash your hair. Focus On The Family's symposium "HIV: Government Lies or Liberal Plot?" probably won't let your book past peer review.

Even if what you say doesn't have the positive impact you desire, it's difficult for me to imagine it having a negative impact. Except it the obvious and unlikely cases above.

[karmawings.livejournal.com]

Like the other lovely commenters have said, you are only (and wholly) responsible for yourself and your actions. You can't control how anyone else will perceive your words. That being said, I cannot think of a way that your talk could have a negative impact. If anything, a dose of humanity could be potentially extremely helpful. Many pharm companies set aside a certain budget a year for "pro bono" medications. Perhaps by reminding them of the individual human beings, it may help them rework that.

[hypanebliss.livejournal.com]

Often I won't receive any feedback from the universe until I've already made my decision. Strange how that works. Having said that, I have had success and disappointment in presenting open minded topics to corporate types. Overall the experience was positive. I managed to gain some allies that I wouldn't otherwise have reached. Before I used to teach in our circles and tradition. Now I am a mentor to a younger generation of business people. All of them respect me. Some are even interested in my beliefs. I can definitely say that speaking in my case is a wonderful thing.

Understand, there are days it goes badly. Around the folks who are stodgy and determined to be negative it really doesn't matter. What I'd ask you is what will enable your authenticity to shine? Do you need to share your message regardless of audience? Because on some level, you may very well reach a few lost souls.