Comments on: Tackling the empathy deficit http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37 roman krznaric's empathy blog Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:59:53 +0000 hourly 1 By: Daniela Norris http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-40 Daniela Norris Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:31:29 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-40 Thank you for this blog, Roman, and for starting with the Israeli/Palestinian story. It is difficult to comprehend how our two peoples have managed to live side by side for over sixty years now, to make each other suffer so much and to know each other so little. Most Israelis never personally met a Palestinian, and vice versa. Thanks to blogs like yours, and to other efforts which are now being made by the new generation (but not only), this shall change. Daniela Norris (co-author of Crossing Qalandiya - Exchanges Across the Israeli/Palestinian Divide from Reportage Press, UK). Thank you for this blog, Roman, and for starting with the Israeli/Palestinian story. It is difficult to comprehend how our two peoples have managed to live side by side for over sixty years now, to make each other suffer so much and to know each other so little. Most Israelis never personally met a Palestinian, and vice versa. Thanks to blogs like yours, and to other efforts which are now being made by the new generation (but not only), this shall change.

Daniela Norris (co-author of Crossing Qalandiya – Exchanges Across the Israeli/Palestinian Divide from Reportage Press, UK).

]]> By: Dr Maureen Tilford http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-12 Dr Maureen Tilford Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:52:30 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-12 Great idea! Just think, if every Govt in the world set up an Empathy Dept where brilliant people were given budgets to match the defence spend and charged with using their creative genius to find ways to improve the empathy levels within the individual ( self-self compassion), between individuals and extending to communities, both intranational and international: I wonder what would be the outcome......just a dream probably.... Great idea! Just think, if every Govt in the world set up an Empathy Dept where brilliant people were given budgets to match the defence spend and charged with using their creative genius to find ways to improve the empathy levels within the individual ( self-self compassion), between individuals and extending to communities, both intranational and international: I wonder what would be the outcome……just a dream probably….

]]> By: Ian W. Parker http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-11 Ian W. Parker Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:05:11 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-11 Roman, I really like the idea behind this blog. I hope it goes well. After reading this post, I know I will be following, especially if the content remains as good. As Paul stated, it is very difficult to understand how it must have felt to embrace the "enemy", but quite easy to understand that moment of realization that those "enemies" are not Palestinians, but fellow parents who have lost their children. This type of adjusting of perspective can be practiced every day with everyone we meet. Look past the initial judgment, categorization, or stereotype and find the common ground. From that common ground, you can begin to understand others. How does the saying go? Seek first to understand. Be well. Ian Roman,

I really like the idea behind this blog. I hope it goes well. After reading this post, I know I will be following, especially if the content remains as good.

As Paul stated, it is very difficult to understand how it must have felt to embrace the “enemy”, but quite easy to understand that moment of realization that those “enemies” are not Palestinians, but fellow parents who have lost their children.

This type of adjusting of perspective can be practiced every day with everyone we meet. Look past the initial judgment, categorization, or stereotype and find the common ground. From that common ground, you can begin to understand others. How does the saying go? Seek first to understand.

Be well.

Ian

]]> By: Antonella http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-9 Antonella Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:29:43 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-9 Roman, Congratulations for your new blog and thank you for writing about this beautiful story about the work of the Bereaved Families Forum. I truly hope in a universal empathy revolution. Roman,
Congratulations for your new blog and thank you for writing about this beautiful story about the work of the Bereaved Families Forum.
I truly hope in a universal empathy revolution.

]]> By: Paul Snookes http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-8 Paul Snookes Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:55:50 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-8 I was deeply touched by the story of the victims of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict trying to understand each other's pain. As a parent of a beautiful teenage girl, my heart aches to think of what the Israeli father had to do to find the strength to meet with 'the enemy'. It must require great strength and courage to rise above the natural urge to hate those who hurt us so deeply and attempt to feel empathy for them. What a dream you have, Roman. It tugs at my heart. I was deeply touched by the story of the victims of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict trying to understand each other’s pain. As a parent of a beautiful teenage girl, my heart aches to think of what the Israeli father had to do to find the strength to meet with ‘the enemy’. It must require great strength and courage to rise above the natural urge to hate those who hurt us so deeply and attempt to feel empathy for them.
What a dream you have, Roman. It tugs at my heart.

]]> By: Lisa http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-7 Lisa Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:55:27 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-7 thanks for sharing the information about the Israeli and Palestinian families meeting - especially in these times where the Goldstone report on the Gaza war has caused such turmoil. reading the photo caption, I was struck at how becoming a parent leads to such a change in identity for a person in some Arab traditions - a woman's name changes to Umm-[name of child] (Mother of...) or Abu-[name of child] (Father of...). I don't know what happens to the name of the parent if that child dies... something I must ask Arab friends. But I can imagine that it makes the loss of that child even more of an anguished daily reminder if his or her name remains part of your name. Good luck Roman with this blog, I hope it brings new ideas and new people together. thanks for sharing the information about the Israeli and Palestinian families meeting – especially in these times where the Goldstone report on the Gaza war has caused such turmoil.

reading the photo caption, I was struck at how becoming a parent leads to such a change in identity for a person in some Arab traditions – a woman’s name changes to Umm-[name of child] (Mother of…) or Abu-[name of child] (Father of…). I don’t know what happens to the name of the parent if that child dies… something I must ask Arab friends. But I can imagine that it makes the loss of that child even more of an anguished daily reminder if his or her name remains part of your name.

Good luck Roman with this blog, I hope it brings new ideas and new people together.

]]> By: Andrew http://outrospection.org/2009/10/25/37/comment-page-1#comment-6 Andrew Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:22:39 +0000 http://outrospection.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/hello-world/#comment-6 Good luck with this Roman - I can see it's going to be a really interesting blog. Good luck with this Roman – I can see it’s going to be a really interesting blog.

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