The Conflict Pro’s are Ready!

The following is written by Diane Perlman and is an open letter to President Obama.

Have a read and let me know what you think. I highlighted a section that I think is pretty powerful.

I originally wrote up my our opinion to the letter, but instead of potentially having an affect on what you have to think, I removed.

I would interested to hear what others have to say, maybe I’ll add my thoughts in a day or two.

Letter to President Obama from Conflict Analysis Professionals for Enduring Security

Dear President Obama,

Congratulations on your election. We look forward to working with you to heal our country in every way we can. We are interdisciplinary conflict analysis professionals including psychologists and other social scientists devoted to the study and practice of violence prevention, tension reduction, conflict transformation and reconciliation. Like you, we are deeply concerned for our friends, colleagues, relatives and all citizens of Israel and Gaza. We fear the consequences of this cyclical violence and failure to respond appropriately to the devastating damage. It will require expert intervention to heal wounds and reverse cycles of violence…..

Since the dominant public mindset believes in the use of violence to defeat enemies, it is important to educate the public about more effective, tension-reducing strategies, and a balanced rendering of historical narratives. People must be mature enough to realize that by focusing on blame, which is easy and automatic, we can always get to be right (and so can they) but we will never get to be safe.

…We appreciate your thoughtfulness and openness to new ideas, and hope we can help political leaders, the media and the American public to understand this new security paradigm that is capable of reversing cycles of violence.

                       

Jeff Thompson

Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., is a professor at Lipscomb University, researcher, mediator, and trainer. He is also involved in crisis and hostage negotiation as well as a law enforcement detective. His research includes law enforcement crisis and hostage negotiation in terrorist incidents. He received his doctorate from Griffith University Law School… MORE >