[Sundaycommunity] Controversial topics

[Helena Burnstein]

Hi everyone,
I’d like to make a contribution to this discussion.
 I attended a very interesting zoom retreat all last week.  It was deeply spiritual but also dealt experientially with conflict resolution.
At one point the entire group voted upon an issue to debate.  (Actually, I suggested that of a guaranteed basic income.  Interestingly, the Toronto Star did a pro and con piece on this the next day.). The issue that ‘won’ was whether or not the COVID vaccine should be 
mandatory.  

The person who took the ‘pro’ position was eloquent. Her husband was in a LTC situation and she couldn’t visit. A cousin had died from COVID just before becoming eligible for the vaccine.

 I wondered how the ‘anti’ person (actually a guy from Toronto—could refute her position.  However, his position was so thoughtful and reflective that it was just as moving, if not moreso.

   He wondered about unknown side effects in the future, and admitted the vaccine felt experimental at this point.  He also gave an example of a group who had been subjected to medical experimentation in his family history and wondered whether that was possibly influencing him.

Cherie Brown, our facilitatori, (founder and leader of the American National Coalition Building Institute) — an anti-racism  organization was training us to do ‘DEEP LISTENING.’  She said that often a person’s position on a topic has arisen out of personal  experience.

The goal is to allow a person to truly be heard non-judgementally.  It was even humorous as she modelled letting the other rant and rave, if necessary, and then responding calmly, asking whether they had had an experience that had caused them to take such a position. 
Sometimes, they were even unaware of it until they reflected upon it.

  As we later experienced in our dyads and small groups during the week, this deep listening made a significant difference.

  Cherie taught that the purpose is not to change our own position or that of the other, though we may hope for this.  But, it is, at least, to offer respect for the other’s position which can open channels of communication and dialogue.

     I offer this in the hope that it may be possible to more easily share differing positions in a more thoughtful, non-judgemental manner whether we retain just our current email list or add a separate one.

Helena

     
















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