The Arts
(and Imperatives) of Listening and Living Together
11 April 2019
"Before children talk they sing.
Before they write they draw.
As soon as they stand they dance.
Art is fundamental to human
expression."
~ Phylicia Rashad
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear
her breathing.”
~Arundhati Roy
"If we want a new
future, we have to have a new story."
~Paul Costello
Founder, New Story Leadership
In our new story of this, The Citizens'
Century, clearly life-giving
Change is no longer top-down, government-only determined.
Creating another world now begins from horizontal, citizen-driven, intimate and
mass communication among equally human citizens, especially between supposed
"enemies."
Here are some of the artists, writers, and exemplars breathing life into
building the Earth anew.
TODAY
1. The Art of Social Weaving
2. The Art of Theater and Storytelling
3. The The Art of Film As
Context for Relationship and Community Building
4. The Art of Writing A New Story of Life Beyond Taking Sides
5. The (he)Art of Camp Life to Heal Relationships
6. Enrichment
= = 1 = =
The Art of
Social Weaving
In February, 2019, columnist David Brooks penned: "A
Nation of Weavers: The social renaissance is happening from the ground
up."
The writer had help birth WEAVE: The
Social Fabric Project -- https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/weave-the-social-fabric-initiative/
Brooks' column about becoming artisans of communication concluded:
"Culture changes when a small group of people, often on the margins
of society, find a better way to live, and other people begin to copy them.
These Weavers have found a better way to live. We at Weave and all of us need
to illuminate their example, synthesize their values so we understand what it
means to be a relationalist and not an individualist.
We need to create hubs where these decentralized networks can come together for
solidarity and support. We need to create a shared Weaver identity. In 1960,
few people called themselves feminists. By 1980, millions did. Just creating
that social identity and that sense of mutual purpose is an act of great power.
"I guess my ask is that you declare your own personal declaration of
interdependence and decide to become a Weaver instead of a ripper. This is
partly about communication. Every time you assault and stereotype a person,
you’ve ripped the social fabric. Every time you see that person deeply and
make him or her feel known, you’ve woven it.
".....Renewal is building, relationship by
relationship, community by community. It will spread and spread as the sparks
fly upward."
A Nation of Weavers
The social renaissance is
happening from the ground up.
David Brooks
The New York Times - 18 February 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/opinion/culture-compassion.html
= = 2 = =
The Art of
Theater and Storytelling
In the Middle East, TOGETHER BEYOND WORDS (TBW) --
http://www.en.beyondwords.org.il
-- says: "We are creating a place for both narratives in people's hearts."
Most Arab and Jewish youth across the land are disconnected, with only 1,000 of
1,660,000 of them in Israel attending common schools together.
The majority will not meet or interact in any depth on a regular basis, except
maybe when and if they go to college or university.
To increase diversity appreciation, and transcend biased attitudes while
strengthening understanding and empathy towards the "other," Arab and
Jewish young women of Heart of Our Stories Ensemble perform and lead
dialogue circles in diverse academic institutions throughout the country.
The Heart of Our Stories:
Arab and Jewish students unite in Playback
Theater
6-min video - Feb 2019
= = 3 = =
The Art of Film
As Context for
Relationship and Community Building
April, 2019, in San
Mateo, California USA,
diverse women, men, and youth from many neighborhoods -- mostly strangers to
one another -- gathered in a large, single circle around a flag of Planet
Earth.
An Experiential Evening of Engagement and Film included
multi-racial citizens from Asia, Africa, Europe, and South and North America,
and many faith traditions who answered an invitation from the local
Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue and Peninsula Conflict Resolution
Center.
ADMISSIONS, the short film, depicts an Israeli couple and a Palestinian
man who create a modern parable for our times, with the possibility of starting
a conversation that heals.
The film streams freely for all to view at https://pepstar.org/peace-entertainment-admissions/
and in Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, Spanish, and Italian at https://pepstar.org/peace-entertainment-admissions/
A Palestinian participant reflected: "I am eager to give more
time to involvement with these kinds of activities, because this is where
people experience needed hope, love, and faith to change what is
happening. I want to hope."
An African immigrant: "...such an incredible dialogue circle
of wonderful people from around the world. My daughter loved it, too!!!"
SEE PHOTOS:
BEYOND TAKING SIDES:
Growing from blame toward empathy and community
https://traubman.igc.org/admissionseveningstory.pdf
= = 4 = =
The Art of Writing
A New Story of Life
Beyond Taking Sides
"I’m done taking
sides. I'm exhausted,"
writes Julia Malaga, a New Jersey executive, columnist, and seeker of
respectful engagement and community.
Taking one side will "simply embolden and strengthen the other side."
"What if I just listen and learn...regardless of the side...refuse to
justify...refuse to be labeled by either side for standing up for the other
when necessary."
"It’s not easy to give up the place where our heels are dug in
deep.
I want to live in a world where we go beyond the primitive, reptilian brains
that respond to fear, into our logical brains and our [largest] hearts to listen
to everyone’s story and find common ground."
Finding a Place Beyond Taking Sides
Julia Malaga
Times of Israel Blog - 09 April 2019
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/finding-a-place-beyond-taking-sides/
= = 5 = =
The (he)Art of Camp Life
to Heal Relationships
Many people do their
very best together in nature.
Heart to Heart -- https://www.heart-to-heart.ca
-- in Canada brings together a new generation of Jewish and Palestinian youth
to become leaders who model the building of a shared society, and possess the
relationships and skills to make it a reality.
Each year, a group of 20 youth aged 14-15, half Palestinian citizens of Israel
and half Jewish citizens of Israel, live together in an immersive
three-and-a-half-week camp-based program in Perth, Ontario.
The young women and men dedicate themselves to relationship building activities
and facilitated dialogue about the narratives, politics, and power dynamics
that shape their daily lives back home.
They are becoming a "generation that may hold the key, not just to
another peace process, but to a real understanding of the other side of the
story," observes Mary Weins of CBC Radio.
Canadian summer camp brings Jewish and
Palestinian teens together
CTV News - 2-1/2 min video
= = 6 = =
Enrichment
Heal The World
Youth artists
7-min music video
This
message is on the Web at https://traubman.igc.org/messages/717.htm
Hundreds of other success stories are preserved at https://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm