At 08:54 PM 1/6/2002 -0500, you wrote:
I, too, wonder about how to open a space for dialogue between antagonists in an extreme conflict, such as supporters of the Palestinian cause vs. supporters of the Israeli cause. Right now, these groups stand on either side of a fence yelling at each other, which has nothing to do with anything constructive.
I guess the simple answer is -- Just like always. But in super Hi-conflict situations things that are just "useful" under more normal circumstances become absolutely critical. In terms of a theme it must be something that people really care about and not just something "safe." The theme must be broad enough to allow for inclusion and focused enough so that people know why they are coming. I find it useful to look for real hard/gut issues -- something like "Education of our Children" or "fixing roads" -- and not something like "Bringing Love to Our land." Voluntary Self-Selection is another "critical" -- if people feel forced to come, a bad situation becomes worse. And if you never quite knew what "holding space" was -- you will find out. It can be a real "white knuckle" trip -- but just hold tight to the arms of a good solid chair, say and do nothing -- just "be" as intensely as you can. As for Israelis and Palestinians I have no personal experience, though ask me in several weeks and that lack of experience will hopefully have changed. However in other similar situations I have found that at the end of the day people are people, and Open Space is open space. Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
