Algebra
for Coexistence:
Discovering
our human equality, our best
29 January 2016
"Either war
is finished or we are."
~ Herman Wouk (1915 - )
in War and Remembrance
"The days of
humiliation, of second-class citizens and of inequality
are over and gone
forever."
~ Gerry Adams (1948- )
President, Sinn Fein - Northern Ireland
"Not one of
you truly believes until you
wish for others
what you wish for yourself."
~ Prophet Mohammed Hadith
The Golden Rule expressed in most major religions
http://www.scarboromissions.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/item_34_lg.jpg
"How do I
listen to others?
As if everyone were
my Master speaking to me
His cherished last
words."
- Hafiz (1320-1389, Persia)
Sufi Persian
mystic and poet
"I win,
you lose" does not equate.
It is
neither logical nor successful in human relationships.
Some adults remember that two childhood difficulties were algebra and keeping
bonds of human friendship.
We are still learning.
Human bonds are broken by inciting harm, rankism,
unfairness, humiliation.
We are driven apart by loss and by fear of losing home, identity,
dignity, and freedom to reach our human best.
Algebra is from Arabic, al-jabr, meaning
"reunion of broken parts."
It openly inquires to discover what "unknown" on the "other
side" proves the equality of the two sides is true.
And so it is with us -- equally human.
We discover this truth of our existence on Earth by meeting face-to-face.
We listen with sincere, skilled openness and inquire into one another's
lives.
The experience is as dependable as algebra: "An enemy is one whose story
we have not heard."
It is time to incite what strengthens human bonds -- acts of kindness that
dignify donor and recipient. . .equally.
In homes, schools, neighborhoods, and among nations.
With every decision, every day.
Here are citizens solving equations.
Seeking the unknown -- the equally human partner awaiting discovery.
= = 1 = =
Finding equality in
A Circle of Women
Or-Nur-Light includes Muslim, Christian, and Jewish women together for
10 years ago in Haifa.
They are one of seventy groups of the Interfaith Encounter Association
-- https://interfaithencounter.wordpress.com
-- dedicated to promoting peace in the Middle East through face-to-face
interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural learning.
Monthly in-home meetings include visits in Arab villages and cultural
activities throughout
the land.
This 21-minute film documents a meeting in the living room of Nawal and Omar in Kababir, a
mixed neighborhood of Jews and Ahmadi Muslim Arabs in
Haifa.
Included were Manal Sherif
and her husband, Mohammad, leader of the Ahmadi
congregation.
Their new video chronicles 10 years of communication excellence and sustained
partnership in their "island of sanity."
It is intended to encourage similar new groups to begin worldwide.
Or-Nur-Light
21-min video -- December 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sSf-XSRf0M
= = 2 = =
Discovering equality by
Living Together
Israel's
Channel One program, Release, recently visited Wahat
al-Salam ~ Neve Shalom -- http://wasns.org -- to talk with some of the teens
living in this deliberate cooperative village of Jews and Palestinian Arabs
near Jerusalem.
In the current climate of distrust, despair and violence they found courage,
humor, optimism, inspiration and hope -- honest, ongoing relationships.
Coexistence
is no dream in Neve Shalom/Wahat
al-Salam
6-1/2 min video -- 28 January
2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6MdjnH4Nr8
= = 3 = =
Experiencing equality
Among Martial Artists
In contrast with
news reports of Middle East tension, today Budos
for Peace -- http://www.budoforpeace.org
-- continues to unite with person-to-person martial arts that reject violence
in favor of human engagement that diffuses resistance and harm.
In the Holy Land and internationally, Budo for Peace
participants give adversaries experiences of peaceful co-existence between
Jews, Palestinians, other Arabs, and all humankind.
Fighting for
peaceful co-existence
Australian Jewish News - 26
November 2012
2-min news video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEe-1iJVZiI
= = 4 = =
Realizing equality while
Healing Together
Increasing in
numbers,. Palestinians and Israelis of the Parents Circle ~ Families Forum
-- http://www.theparentscircle.com
-- are drawn together of shared grief.
They have lost family members to violence, yet choose open dialogue rather
than revenge.
It Wont End Until We Talk
Tablet Magazine -- 28 January
2016
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/196693/it-wont-end-until-we-talk
= = 5 = =
Exploring equality while
Guiding Tours
In December
2015, 40 Palestinians and Israelis answered the call to professional tour
guides for an all-day meeting by the Dead Sea.
How could they use their professional opportunities to help travelers to
experience diverse people, places, and faiths -- our shared humanity?
With thousands of daily tourists, they saw their potential to awaken
understanding, heart connections, and compassion to dignify everyone and create
community.
Tour Guides
as a Bridge Between Humans
Meeting notes and photos --
December 2015
http://www.tour4change.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Tour_guide_as_a_bridge_Report_2015.pdf
TWO IMPORTANT RESOURCES
= = 1 = =
A how-to and why of Dialogue
The Power of
Authentic Dialogue
George Kohlrieser
Leader to Leader -- Fall 2006
http://www.georgekohlrieser.com/userfiles/file/articles/7.GK_AuthenticDialogue.pdf
and
https://www.facebook.com/download/1071178522914966/AuthenticDialogue.pdf
= = 2 = =
How Change happens (and doesn't)
"The
way we're trying to change the world is not going to work."
Most of our big systems — education, health care, government, business — are
failing our communities.
What if we stopped trying to fix them?
Deborah Frieze says its not possible to change big systemswe can only abandon them and start over or offer
hospice to whats dying.
Change will begin with "localism" -- small, loosely connected circles
of interested, imaginative citizens with courage and initiative.
Each citizen will matter.
How I Became
a Localist
Deborah Frieze:
TEDxTalk -- December 2015
13 min video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTdZSPBRRE
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This message is on the Web at http://traubman.igc.org/messages/692.htm
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