About William Ury
He has been really into how to deal with conflict on earth and has tried to work ,getting involve in many conflicts in Middle East during last 30 years. In addtion, he is the author writing "Getting to yes".
A Summary of his Idea
William Ury talks about how to deal with conflicts on earth, especially between different countries or cultures. First, He maintains that the secret of peace is us, our actions to deal with conflicts by creating different ways of looking at conflict situation. In order to do that, people should be aware of “the third side of conflict”, which is surrounding communities that involve two sides that are opposed to each other, and use it for making increased temper and finding effective ways to deal with conflicts. He says it is the system called as “Go to the balcony” and it plays important roles in figuring out what a real problem is without reacting emotionally. What’s more, he talks about “Abraham’s path” which is a story in Middle East and the symbol of the third side of conflict, and explains that walking side by side and visiting strange country, enjoying hospitality people offer, having conversation is the basic value the story gives us and the key understanding difference and solving conflict. Moreover, our visiting causes positive effects on economy in other countries, and when the world shares common identity and economy each countries, people can deeply understand other culture and stop conflict with them.
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*To help your understanding about the story “Abraham’s path”
4000 years ago, a man called Abraham had had long journey, walking across Middle East with his family. Whenever he visited each town, He and his family could be welcomed and get hospitality from people in town, and this made people united.
A Response of his Idea
Before listening to William’s idea, I expected that he would mention how to win and get what I want from conflicts since the title of the book he wrote is “getting to yes”. However, he seems to strive to find way to deal with conflict between the United State and Middle East as one of American. I am surprised with his commitments to find ways to conflicts on earth and the period he spent for it. His idea seems a little ideal but makes sense. While it is hard to solve conflicts when they solve it if we rely on using political power and weapon, it can be easy to cover it if many ordinary people like us are involved in the conflicts since people can be close and understand each other when they share foods and enjoy spending time together. On the top of that, I believe the ways he suggests to understand the difference of other group or cultures and to deal with conflicts are very similar to the way that anthropologists pursue which is going into others’ society and understand them inside of their culture.
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I agree with you, Anna. He seems to know well about how to avoid or solve serious conflicts between people or nations as a master of negotiations. Especially, I was deeply impressed by his opinion that walking side by side touching naturally each other in the same direction could be a solution for heading off disputes in the Middle East. This will be the same context as you mentioned. While walking along a path, people will enjoy the food there together and feel the kindness towards strangers under the name of Abraham. What is better, it will also be good for its local economy. If I have to say one thing, that is they may have fellowship that people sharing the same goal can feel. Walking in the same direction may mean they are moving toward the same goal. Therefore, they will be able to share their thoughts in the meanwhile, and it will lead to understand each other better. What a wonderful thought it is! In conclusion, I think that conflicts may disappear forever if everyone is in on the journey.
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Hi Anna! I totally agree with you. When we talk about the solutions for all conflicts that exist on Earth seems to be an ideal. But what are we without ideals?! Many things appeared to be ideals at first, but after a while they became reality. What is important is that William Ury tried to make people think positive. Sometimes, just the thoughts that you can live in a better world without conflicts, can make you better and happier. Yes, I know, the title is exciting but the information that you received from the lecturer wasn’t what you expected to be. In my opinion, we just think about the message “Yes, we can change something in our lives. It’s up to us”. I think it’s like an oxygen bubble. This oxygen helps us survive even if it was for a short time. Unfortunately, a big conflict like that between US and some countries from the Middle East is very hard to be solved now, in this political context. Anyway, we should believe that some powerful people who are able to do it, will change their thought and they will switch “no” to “yes” and this will happen one day.
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