Hi Mikhal, I'm so sorry to hear about the traumatic experience of your friends and also the traumatic memories from your formative years. I have never lived under such violent terror so I can only imagine what it could do to your nervous system and psyche. My grandma did suffer from trauma during WWII and my mom from famine and political turmoil. I have inherited the trauma through different means. That makes me feel extreme sympathy for the innocent victims especially children in the current Israel Palestinian war. You are doing important work by making meaningful conversations between people in opposing countries accessible. I completely agree to the idea that peace won't be possible unless people listen, with curiosity, what the other side is going through and acknowledge the validity of their lived experience. One doesn't have to agree but simply acknowledge that each individual's experience is valid. Allowing space for witnessing is the beginning of understanding and only then can peace have a chance.
Thank you so much for your response, dear Louisa <3 Holding space for all this anguish is so hard, but I don't see any other way through. When we forget each other's humanity we lose a possibility for a future. Just as you said — we don't have to agree, but we have to listen with open hearts. Love you.
Hi Mikhal, I'm so sorry to hear about the traumatic experience of your friends and also the traumatic memories from your formative years. I have never lived under such violent terror so I can only imagine what it could do to your nervous system and psyche. My grandma did suffer from trauma during WWII and my mom from famine and political turmoil. I have inherited the trauma through different means. That makes me feel extreme sympathy for the innocent victims especially children in the current Israel Palestinian war. You are doing important work by making meaningful conversations between people in opposing countries accessible. I completely agree to the idea that peace won't be possible unless people listen, with curiosity, what the other side is going through and acknowledge the validity of their lived experience. One doesn't have to agree but simply acknowledge that each individual's experience is valid. Allowing space for witnessing is the beginning of understanding and only then can peace have a chance.
Thank you so much for your response, dear Louisa <3 Holding space for all this anguish is so hard, but I don't see any other way through. When we forget each other's humanity we lose a possibility for a future. Just as you said — we don't have to agree, but we have to listen with open hearts. Love you.