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Social media has served as a unique platform for Armenians and Azerbaijanis to debate the war. The interaction between the two ethnic groups intensified as the conflict escalated. The mood matched the emotions on the battleground. It was rather a shouting contest
Social media has served as a unique platform for Armenians and Azerbaijanis to debate the war. The interaction between the two ethnic groups intensified as the conflict escalated. The mood matched the emotions on the battleground. It was rather a shouting contest
than regular communication where each side screamed its truth by turning a deaf ear to the opposing sides' perspectives. There were exceptions.
I've been thinking about the reasons for this communication failure. One of the reasons, in my opinion, is how little each
I've been thinking about the reasons for this communication failure. One of the reasons, in my opinion, is how little each
side knows about the other. Each party knows its pain (s) inflicted by the opposing party but knows very little about the pain inflicted by itself to the other side.There is no empathy. The absence of empathy makes communication unbearable, compromise impossible. If this mood
continues to reign, the parties will remain entrenched in their positions, seeking an opportunity to inflict more pain upon another, which will make the compromises even less feasible. Hence more violence. This is not a pacifist's call for peace. It is a perspective on how to
avoid making the same mistakes. Dear folks, we have tried the hostility option. It gave us two wars and up to 50 thousand deaths. We either continue making the same mistakes and inching towards the third war or start paving the way for reconciliation.
If you belong to the first group, be aware that you are contributing to further violence. So you should reconsider. If you choose the latter, you should start by learning and listening. Learning about the pain of the other side, digesting it, feeling empathetic. By doing so,
you will start acknowledging that reconciliation is the only way and start contributing to it. Burying the hatchets is not an option. It is a necessity.
Spread the word!
Cheers!
Spread the word!
Cheers!
