format_quote Originally Posted by
Keltoi
This is a complicated time for this sort of dialogue, which should have been going on for centuries. Perhaps when this current conflict is over and the bullets stop flying, Muslims and non-Muslims can engage in dialogue that isn't poisoned by current events.
That is a good summary of what is holding back any dialogue.
Now it is true dialogue is a very important step for co-existance. But it is not the first step. An error is to jump into dialogue before the problems that prevent dialogue are solved.
The first step is not dialogue, the first step is to rmove the barriers to dialogue. People are talkers, without barriers dialogue will happen. The questions are not how to bring about dialogue, the questions are how to tear down the barriers.
some things that need to be done,
Common language must be established
Active conflicts must cease
We must see each other as individuals
That is just the very minimal easiest seen barriers. It appears to be a circular thinking process. We can see the barriers to dialogue, yet the first tool we attempt to use is dialogue to break down the barriers to dialogue.
Sadly, somebody is going to have to risk all and for the sake of dialogue is going to have to accept the fact they will initialy be conqured.
Some major power is going to have to start as strictly one sided within themselves. Believe that world dialogue is more important then their own existence. Call an end to all hostilities and throw down all weapons of war and defense. Of course they will be immediately over run. But the result will be a single nation emerging as the only world power and then the people withing the single super power can begin dialogue on a one to one basis. I would not hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
Until all barriers to dialogue are eliminated, we will have conflict. All we can do is try to keep any conflict conflned until the means to continue conflict are exhausted and all the is left is dialogue.
So my answer to the poll that while dialogue is the most important step for coexistence, it is not the first step that needs to be taken.