2019-01-24 Lincoln Mem.
Empathy Cafe: Bridging Political Divides with Empathy Circles
Everyone invited, open to all. We divide into smaller breakout rooms and Empathy Circles.
Date: January 24, 7 PM – 9 PM PT
(See time converter for your time zone)
Topic: Lincoln Memorial: Native American, Catholic Students, Black Hebrew Israelites Confrontation.
Cafe Facilitator: Lou Zweier
Producer: Edwin Rutsch
Facebook Event Page: Sign up on Facebook Events .
Location: Zoom Meeting Room URL: https://zoom.us/j/9896109339
Click on the link to enter the Zoom video conferencing room.
Participants
VIDEO
(VIEW: Video on YouTube and on Facebook)
(VIEW: Video on YouTube and on Facebook)
What I appreciated about this process, I saw people really listening to each other, even thought they might have had a different viewpoint.
What I appreciated about this process, I saw people really listening to each other, even thought they might have had a different viewpoint. I place a very, very high value on being able to listen to view points that are different from my own. I'm thinking here, "It's not that hard, we can teach this."
I Wish... for maybe a narrowing of an issue. A little bit more targeting an actual issue, like, I had a conversation with my conservative sister-in-law about school busing and her experiences in the south as a school teacher. Things that get a little more specific about an issue and where we come more from our personal experience if possible.
I love the inspiration that I get from watching people really listen to each other and trying very hard to reflect each other back and understand the meaning of what people are saying.
I love the inspiration that I get from watching people really listen to each other and trying very hard to reflect each other back and understand the meaning of what people are saying. That is very inspiring to me and it's very beautiful. It is a certain kind of beauty watching people trying to connect way and it is very moving to me and it gives me a lot of hope for the world and our future.
I Wish... more diversity in the perspectives of the people who are participating.
I love this process, it is very simple and it's a natural process. It does feel very natural and easy and one that can be used in daily life I think.
I love this process, it is very simple and it's a natural process. It does feel very natural and easy and one that can be used in daily life I think. I know where I could use this in different ways, even one on one.
I'm grateful for David to have joined us and to give give another viewpoint, because most of us in our group we probably all kind of agree with one another pretty much, in our own ways. So David I just want to say I am so grateful for you to be part of the group. My own view was challenged and expanded by you and we fortunate to have you. That is my wish for the future that we have more diversity and if we can thing of ways to call in other people and say, "Come join us". I'd love that more diversity.
I was a little annoyed because I was the only right wing person and yet with the rotation I got skipped a couple of times. I would like to suggest a structured rotation policy, because empathy like to associate empathy with easy, but it is not. I think if it is easier your not doing it right. I people naturally shyed, they were interested in what I said, they naturally kind of shyed away from me. And I think it showed in our last session. So I'd like to recommend we have a more static rotation policy.
As far as the lack of right wing people in here that's kind of up to me as well cause I guess you guys don't have my friend pool. My opinions are kind of unique for right wing actually. I'm my own person. I will be more diligent for tossing this idea to other people in my political affliction to join these things because a lot of them already have a negative outlook on empathy on how it has been adertsed by the left.
I Like... I enjoyed hearing peoples perspectives and in the future I would wish for more variety of opinions and backgrounds and a better internet connection.
In the future I would like to practice more and more and one day to facilitate an empathy dialogue here in Poland.
It was challenging because of my language skills. I am not a native speaker in English, so it was difficult.
What I miss is the right wing point of view on the issue we were discussing. In our subgroup there we were mostly left or liberal, centrist point of view. So I miss very much the right wing perspective on the event we were discussing.
In the future I would like to practice more and more and one day to facilitate an empathy dialogue here in Poland.
I am seeing through this experience, that listening and being able to reflect back another person's point of view accurately is a skill that I need some work on. I am really enthusiastic about embracing that and developing that skill.
I really enjoyed this process. I believe that issues that surround us or that confront us each day is our lack of ability to communicate authentically. Which I place a high value on. But I am seeing through this experience, that listening and being able to reflect back another persons point of view accurately is a skill that I need some work on and I am really enthusiastic about embracing that and developing that skill.
I realize that I don't have it even though I consider myself a good listener and a really good bull shit detector and everything else. Just the ability to not only communicate authentically but to listen authentically is the other side of the coin and I'm thrilled, I'm really thrilled to have been a part of this.
I Wish for the future more of this. So my wish not only do we learn as people, and I realize it starts with one person at a time, learn to communicate with emotional intelligence and authenticity, but also start acquiring this skill too. To be able to genuinely listen and reflect back anther persons point of view. I think it is huge in developing a more healthy sustainable future.
I would love to know what happened if I did this with my girlfriend who I talk to about one a week? ... I think she would really like it, this is just a normal thing I would like to try the out. It does take concentration, also it would be such a rich, and enriching listening experience.
What I would hope for the future is for me to keep doing this. And to get a days notice on what we will talk about.
I Like... that quality of moving toward our common humanity. When we have this time and this space, which takes a lot of work, and slowing we really get to know each other. And there is a sense of connection and understanding, and it just feels really good.
I Wish... for more variety of people. I like the energy that comes up from those different perspectives.
― Zak Wear
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