/index.php/blog/c/blog/ Share insights and observations about reconciliation, diversity and conflict resolution from The Institute for Sustainable Peace and contributing bloggers. en-us Copyright 2011, The Institute for Sustainable Peace Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:12:11 -0600 Pre-Built CMS Kits for ExpressionEngine (www.prebuiltcms.com) http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/reconciliation-breakthrough-in-darfur/ As many sing of "Peace on earth and good will toward men" in their Christmas celebrations, I thought that you might like a break from the stream of bad news pouring out of the media and a chance to read an inspiring story of restored hope for peace in a region that many have given up on.   In October and November of 2011, Makki Ibrahim Makki, the Sudan Project Manager for the Institute for Sustainable Peace, returned to his home region in Darfur for the first time in ten years. I thought he went home to see his mother and get married.  Turns out, he also had a peace project in mind.  Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:12:11 -0600 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/renewing-our-minds-2011/ This is the first time since 2002 that I was unable to participate as a Speaker in the ROM (Renewing Our Minds) Project in Croatia due to the illness of my mother.  I was so pleased, however, when Mac Skelton (formerly Program Director of the Buxton Initiative in Washington, DC) agreed to go in my place.  Mac has joined the ISP for the summer. I asked Mac to share his reflections on his experience and am happy to post them below.                    -Randall Butler   From July 16th through the 31st, I (Mac) represented the ISP as a speaker at ROM (Renewing Our Minds), an annual faith-based conference on reconciliation, forgiveness and peace-building for young Balkan leaders. In the early 90's, Croats, Serbs and several other national/ethnic groups in the Balkans fought a bloody and costly war. The vision of ROM is to cultivate a generation of leaders who will lead their communities to a future that does not repeat the mistakes of the past. Now that the conference has passed, I came away with a few conclusions and observations: Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:47:42 -0500 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/guest-blog-not-a-melting-pot-but-a-mosaic-michael-jhin/ We are very pleased to welcome Michael Jhin to the board of directors of the Institute for Sustainable Peace.  Michael served fourteen years as the CEO of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System in Houston, Texas and has served as CEO Emeritus since his retirement in 2004. Michael wrote the below op-ed in January in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. I am very pleased to share it with you here because it contains Michael’s personal reflections on diversity in America and speaks to important lessons from which we can all benefit as we seek to build sustainable peace. - Randy Butler Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:45:08 -0500 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/guest-blog-from-jihad-to-irjaf-lets-not-play-into-the-semantics-of-ter/ I met Kaitlyn Allen in the spring of 2008 while she was volunteering in ISP's community building project in one of the large apartment projects in the Alief suburb of Houston.  I was struck then by Kaitlyn’s maturity, keen intellect, and obvious empathy as I observed her in dialogue with women from diverse cultures.  Kaitlyn is now a graduate student at Georgetown University studying international conflict resolution.  She recently shared an essay with me that she wrote for one of her courses. After reading it, I asked her if she would contribute it as a blog on our website.  I was so pleased that, after obtaining permission of the author of the book she references, she agreed to contribute the essay as a blog on our website.  After you read it, I am sure you will understand why. (Randall Butler) Words matter. Words can give and take away legitimacy, power, and energy. The Arabic word jihad has generally come to mean “terrorism” or “religious war” in the English-speaking world; however, it has multiple, positive meanings in Arabic—talk about “lost in translation.” Unfortunately, by using a single word with multiple, positive meanings to describe one specifically negative thing like terrorism, we actually can end up legitimizing the very thing we wish to condemn. How can we overcome this grave miscommunication?  Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:20:03 -0500 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/witnesses-referees-and-peacekeepers-for-egypt/ Scenes of men on horseback and camels swinging clubs while racing at full gallop into the crowds of peaceful demonstrators in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Wednesday were shocking and disgusting.  My heart had been stirred by the scenes of thousands marching in the streets of Cairo and other cities in Egypt, for the most part non-violently, demanding the end of autocracy and repression.  After seeing the violence initiated by what we now know to be plain clothes security and employees of the ruling political party (see Nick Kristof’s Op-Ed “We Are All Egyptians” published Feb. 3 in the NY Times), who could fault any of us for asking how it could be possible for this people’s uprising to go forward successfully in a way that builds long term peace. Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:06:05 -0600 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/our-reps-sitting-together-a-good-beginning/   The “find someone from the other party to sit with” invitations for President Obama’s State of the Union address drew media attention and a few takers. The fact that a Democrat sat between two Republicans, or vice versa, might not seem like a news event; still it was a significant gesture. While most would say that it was only a symbolic act, I believe it was a good beginning in creating space for a dialogue.   We need our leaders to engage in real dialogue, the kind that brings the best thinking of the participants to a conversation with a center and no sides. The center of that dialogue must include some of the most intractable problems we face.  For that dialogue to occur, our leaders must move beyond symbolism. It’s not enough to simply create the space for folks to meet. Obviously people in Congress can walk across the aisle and talk to each other any time they want.  Its about creating the right kind of space — a space where there is an opportunity for engagement – a safe space.  The first steps in creating dialogue are an invitation, an acceptance and then creation of the space to meet. By space I mean both a physical location and a social context.  It is a safe space for constructive engagement where you will not be penalized for showing up. Constructive Engagement One of the things that we have learned from our work is that engagement must not only be at the level of the mind or just about issues.  There must also be engagement at the level of the heart. A story comes to mind that illustrates the importance of personal engagement.  When I was visiting in 2000 with individuals involved in the peace process in Northern Ireland, one of our hosts, Trevor Morrow, then Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, recalled an incident that occurred in a meeting of leaders of the IRA and the Protestants.  During a break in their formal meetings, the leaders of the two groups began talking and at some point pulled out their wallets and began showing each other photographs of their grandchildren.   At the moment they engaged each other at a more personal level they realized that maybe one thing they had in common was that both wanted a more peaceful future for their grandkids.  They didn’t want them to grow up and be party to the same kind of violence that had plagued Northern Ireland for decades.   Trevor said that was the breakthrough in making real progress in their talks. Instead of seeing each other as enemies, they saw each other as grandfathers who wanted a better future for their grandchildren. When they were engaged with an open heart they were more able to open their minds to new possibilities. Prof. Roger Fisher and his colleague at the Harvard Negotiation Project have written extensively on the necessity of improving working relationships among those negotiating, especially if they want to find optimal long-term solutions.  Some may protest that this approach is too soft, too sentimental.  There is nothing sentimental about accomplishing good work through better relationships. A Beginning Gesture It was great to see many of our Congressional Representatives and Senators sitting together.  Let’s let them know that we want them to go beyond this symbolic beginning.  Let’s encourage them to create opportunities for constructive engagement that can lead to real collaborative problem solving.  The future of our grandchildren depends on it. The “find someone from the other party to sit with” invitations for President Obama’s State of the Union address drew media attention and a few takers. The fact that a Democrat sat between two Republicans, or vice versa, might not seem like a news event; still it was a significant gesture. While most would say that it was only a symbolic act, I believe it was a good beginning in creating space for a dialogue.     Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:51:46 -0600 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/where-truth-mercy-justice-and-peace-meet/ John Paul Lederach, in his book, “Building Peace,” observes that contemporary wars are all identity based and involve deep rooted animosities where neighbor fears neighbor, blood has been shed, and hatred, prejudice and racism are primary factors and motivators in the continuation of conflict.  (p. 29) If that is the case, top down peacemaking efforts and peace treaties cannot be effective in quelling the ongoing cycles of violence.  Lederach contends, and our experience confirms, that contemporary conflicts require transformative processes rooted in social-psychological and spiritual dimensions that many international diplomats might consider “too soft.” Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:18:49 -0500 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/what-is-your-unique-work/ I am writing this as my Sudanese brothers and sisters, all leaders either in Sudan or in the Sudanese Diaspora in America, brainstorm together about their vision for a peaceful Sudan in 2015. Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:21:29 -0500 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/they-still-laugh/ It is Day 3 of our 4th Annual Leadership Workshop, “Walking the Path of Peace.”  I just returned from a beautiful hike to a waterfall with a large group of my new (and a few old) friends who are all leaders in or from all regions of Sudan.   As always when I spend time with my Sudanese friends, I found it to be a humbling experience... Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:51:41 -0500 http://www.sustainablepeace.org/index.php/blog/e/rom-2010/ As you read this, thirty-five courageous men and women are on a journey in Croatia.  Their physical location will not change (except for an occasional field trip to the coast) for they are not touring to see the ancient villages and beautiful islands of the Dalmatian Coast.  Theirs is a journey of transformation and discovery, which is why I call them courageous. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:52:59 -0500