Isreal-Palestine discussions, particularly online but also in the meatspace these days, are often fraught. While I lurk discussions around I-P, that's all I do. I almost never participate, and...
Couples Therapy’s Orna Guralnik and former participant Christine have very different views on Israel and Palestine. Could they try to understand one another without the conversation breaking down?
Isreal-Palestine discussions, particularly online but also in the meatspace these days, are often fraught. While I lurk discussions around I-P, that's all I do. I almost never participate, and haven't for years because of how quickly they devolve into flaming and screaming.
So it was refreshing to see a healthy, civil conversation between an Israeli and a Palestinian, exploring each other's views and even their own views while explaining it to each other and themselves. Neither necessarily convinced the other to "come to their side," but that wasn't the goal, anyway. It was about building understanding and seeing humanity in the other side.
The conversation is a little "stilted," since it's steeped in the words and phrasing of couples therapy and counseling; people don't normally talk that way (though maybe we should more often). And I wonder if this is "easier" for them to do since both live in New York, thousands of miles away from Israel and Palestine. Not to say they don't have skin in the game, that they're not affected by the current and historical conflict, but they're not living it everyday. I imagine something like this may be far more difficult, or even impossible, at times for those living in the conflict zones, especially after Oct. 7 and the war.
But it's a start. And I think the this conversation achieved the goal successfully.
A while back, I tried making a board game about the reconciliation and forgiveness process, looking into Northern Ireland, South Africa, and also just between individuals. I didn't get very far...
A while back, I tried making a board game about the reconciliation and forgiveness process, looking into Northern Ireland, South Africa, and also just between individuals. I didn't get very far with that, but it was fascinating to look into some of the study and research on the topic, and at some point I want to revisit that and try and model it in some way.
But one of the things that came up was the importance of this social acceptance of the other side before peace and reconciliation could really take place. You can't forgive someone that you still see as the enemy, and you can't accept forgiveness from someone who you don't believe you've wronged. And if neither side is willing to forgive or be forgiven, then any attempts at long-term reconciliation will not work. In that regard, this sort of dialogue is vital.
That said, one of the other aspects that came up was that reconciliation is usually a process that takes place after a conflict is resolved - i.e. first comes peace, and then in that time of peace, there is time for coming together again and forgiving one another. So I don't know if any sort of lasting forgiveness and reconciliation is possible in a world where both sides see the other party as active enemy combatants to be destroyed by any means.
If you're interested in seeing more calm "opposite sides" conversations, you'll want to check out Jubilee on youtube for their series called Middle Ground. They often take two opposing sides of a...
If you're interested in seeing more calm "opposite sides" conversations, you'll want to check out Jubilee on youtube for their series called Middle Ground. They often take two opposing sides of a hot topic and give each side time to speak on a few talking points/questions on the subject.
Sorry that I can't say anything on this particular topic, as I'm so behind and lost on what's going on for the Israel-Palestine stuff that I've given up trying to keep up and piece things together. But I wanted to share that cool channel in case you or anyone else was interested. Seems like they have a video where Israelis and Palestinians are talking: https://youtube.com/watch?v=_Jj8vne0ca0&pp=ygUaanViaWxlZSBtaWRkbGUgZ3JvdW5kIGdhemE%3D
Isreal-Palestine discussions, particularly online but also in the meatspace these days, are often fraught. While I lurk discussions around I-P, that's all I do. I almost never participate, and haven't for years because of how quickly they devolve into flaming and screaming.
So it was refreshing to see a healthy, civil conversation between an Israeli and a Palestinian, exploring each other's views and even their own views while explaining it to each other and themselves. Neither necessarily convinced the other to "come to their side," but that wasn't the goal, anyway. It was about building understanding and seeing humanity in the other side.
The conversation is a little "stilted," since it's steeped in the words and phrasing of couples therapy and counseling; people don't normally talk that way (though maybe we should more often). And I wonder if this is "easier" for them to do since both live in New York, thousands of miles away from Israel and Palestine. Not to say they don't have skin in the game, that they're not affected by the current and historical conflict, but they're not living it everyday. I imagine something like this may be far more difficult, or even impossible, at times for those living in the conflict zones, especially after Oct. 7 and the war.
But it's a start. And I think the this conversation achieved the goal successfully.
A while back, I tried making a board game about the reconciliation and forgiveness process, looking into Northern Ireland, South Africa, and also just between individuals. I didn't get very far with that, but it was fascinating to look into some of the study and research on the topic, and at some point I want to revisit that and try and model it in some way.
But one of the things that came up was the importance of this social acceptance of the other side before peace and reconciliation could really take place. You can't forgive someone that you still see as the enemy, and you can't accept forgiveness from someone who you don't believe you've wronged. And if neither side is willing to forgive or be forgiven, then any attempts at long-term reconciliation will not work. In that regard, this sort of dialogue is vital.
That said, one of the other aspects that came up was that reconciliation is usually a process that takes place after a conflict is resolved - i.e. first comes peace, and then in that time of peace, there is time for coming together again and forgiving one another. So I don't know if any sort of lasting forgiveness and reconciliation is possible in a world where both sides see the other party as active enemy combatants to be destroyed by any means.
I would love to play that board game.
If you're interested in seeing more calm "opposite sides" conversations, you'll want to check out Jubilee on youtube for their series called Middle Ground. They often take two opposing sides of a hot topic and give each side time to speak on a few talking points/questions on the subject.
Sorry that I can't say anything on this particular topic, as I'm so behind and lost on what's going on for the Israel-Palestine stuff that I've given up trying to keep up and piece things together. But I wanted to share that cool channel in case you or anyone else was interested. Seems like they have a video where Israelis and Palestinians are talking: https://youtube.com/watch?v=_Jj8vne0ca0&pp=ygUaanViaWxlZSBtaWRkbGUgZ3JvdW5kIGdhemE%3D