Communication
Evolution leads to
Creativity for
Peace
23 October 2009
Communication Evolution
In 1964,
Simon and Garfunkel first sang "Sounds of Silence"
lamenting that people could not communicate or love each other.
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
The young
artists pleaded:
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
With 1969 was movement.
The photo of Earth from space showed us we are one.
Citizens engaged more -- altruistic and caring
for others, even enemies.
Simon and Garfunkel sang about it -- "Bridge
Over Troubled Water"
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
By 1991 the photo of Earth was imprinted in our psyches.
The "public peace process" was first
defined in June.
SEE the1991 4-1/2 minute video -- http://traubman.igc.org/saunders.wmv
.
Broadcast worldwide was the Grammy Song of the Year
-- "From A Distance"
From a distance we are instruments
Marching in a common band
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace
They're the songs of every man
From a distance you look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance I can't comprehend
What all this war is for
From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves
It's the heart of every man
Today in
2009, beyond melodies and lyrics the
public peace process lives in the relationships between Palestinian and Jewish
youth and adults.
Beyond human interest -- beyond war -- it is
becoming hard news recently in the Washington Post.
In the Holy Land, the HAGAR SCHOOL -- http://hajar.org.il/ -- is newly created to
gather Arab and Jewish children side by side in bi-lingual education to understand
the other's heritage, religion, and customs.
They "echo through the land" their clarion
call of hope and their how-to for bringing about positive change in the region
and world.
Teaching Tolerance In a Conflict Zone
By Catherine Rottenberg and Neve Gordon
Published in ON FAITH -- The Washington Post -- 13 October
2009
Three
weeks in summer 2009, CREATIVITY FOR PEACE -- http://www.creativityforpeace.com/
-- brought to New Mexico 20 courageous Jewish and Palestinian teen peace
builders from the Holy Land.
Palestinians arrived from Ramallah, East
Jerusalem, Jenin, Tulkarem,
and Nablus, and from Nazareth, Um El Fahm and Haifa
within Israel.
Jewish youth traveled from Nazareth, Upper Gallilee, Matan, and the Sderot area of Israel.
Because of the war in Gaza, the air was filled with
anger and grief.
But the powerful, challenging weeks included teens
with an unrelenting search for new life together.
"In the end these strong young women realized the
value of speaking from the heart and listening without judgment," writes
program director, Dottie Indyke (
Dottie@cybermesa.com ).
Get more information from Indyke or Middle
East coordinators Anael Harpaez
( Anael@creativityforpeace.com ) or Silvia Margia (
sylvimarg@bezeqint.net ).
See PHOTOS of how they create art and
relationships.
http://www.creativityforpeace.com/mediagallery/photos_2009.html
READ what they
say:
This experience taught me so many things and a
lot about myself. I learned more about the other side and now Im more understanding, sensitive, and a good listener. This
has been one of the greatest experiences in my life.
--Palestinian participant
My camp experience was amazing. I'm speechless.
The change I've been through is worth it all. The opportunity to met girls from
the other side and become friends will help me to lead the change in me and in
my country.
--Jewish participant
This camp was an amazing experience. I learned to
be open-minded, to open my heart and keep it open and to listen to others.
--Palestinian participant
This camp is all about touching your deepest feelings
and finding the strength to change and to heal the wounds our society created
in us.
--Jewish participant
I became better and now have better feelings
about the `enemy. I feel they are just like my sisters and we can live
with each other in the same land and have peace. I believe we can treat
each other as humans.
--Palestinian participant
My thoughts and feelings about the other side
only strengthened. I came to camp knowing that I would meet girls like me who I
just didnt have the opportunity to meet before. I
enjoyed this very much. Now I think I am more determined and know that this is
the way simply to meet, to get to know, and to see those who live by our side.
This is the way to further the peace process.
--Jewish participant
Before coming to this camp I couldnt
imagine being with an Israeli girl in the same house and sharing everything
together. But we did that -- and it wasn't hard.
-Palestinian participant
We all lay in the middle of the floor in dialogue,
in the place where we cried, laughed, got angry, and loved. We lay on top of
each other with our hands and legs intertwined. Suddenly someone began to sing
the song from Titanic and while we sang this, as absurd as it sounds, I felt
that we are truly united!
--Jewish participant