Hilda,

I hear that you are commenting. about the dialectic involved in being both a servant and a gatekeeper that those of us in social work, education and other public "service" work juggle constantly. Not everyone recognizes the dialectical process. Sounds like you are cognizant of both thesis and antithesis. The dialectical process involves find the synthesis of the two. Of course, within each synthesis at which one arrives are the seeds of the next level of thesis and antithesis.

I believe the "system" represents one synthesis of opposing values around the individual vs. society. It is an attempt at balance. Our social institutions are always juggling those values, just as we as individuals are always juggling those values. The dialectical process is powerfully dynamic. For some, the synthesis will lead to them working within the system. For others, it will mean working outside of it. And at any given time, no matter what synthesis at which we have arrived, we are soon grappling with the new thesis and antithesis that immediately begin to emerge. That is one reason why I think many of us with strong values around serving and working with disadvantaged populations tend to move back and forth working within at times, and without at other times.

Janie