President-elect Obama advocating the politics of hope and caring communities in times of crisis has triggered imaginations around the globe. What captured my imagination was something he said that was written off as a sign of naivety. He said he is prepared to talk to those who are perceived to be enemies to the developed world. For this he was ridiculed and scorned.
Peace is created through talk. This does not mean stupid give-it-all-away negotiation. It means talk that strengthens understanding, creates relationships for the future, and explores options for co-existence. It may also include warning talk, power talk, exchange talk, and transformational talk.
Not talking means no learning and no change. Refusing to talk suggests fear of what might happen. In today’s warfare, no one wins and the war ends when people decide to quit fighting. Then they have to talk.
Does it make some sense to talk first?
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