LANGUAGE OF CONFLICT
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Consulting
    • Testimonials
  • About
  • Contact
    • Sarah Federman
    • Finish and Flourish
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Consulting
    • Testimonials
  • About
  • Contact
    • Sarah Federman
    • Finish and Flourish

IRMA and JOSE: Perpetrators?

9/12/2017

0 Comments

 
I study how we talk about evildoers and how this affects how we respond to them. When we label folks or events as "evil"  we never have to reflect on our own role in the crime, violence, or loss.

We love these good-bad binaries. Our superhero films are filled with them. They bring us comfort, they reassure us of our pure victimhood and help us identify the bad guys so we will not be harmed in the future.

What I am finding, however, is how we talk about the "enemy" often sets us up for more long-term problems.

Negotiating with IRMA 

Picture
 I spent most of Sunday terrified as IRMA barreled towards my family huddled on the 4th floor of a condo in Naples, Florida. First we waited to find out if they lost the roof and if the windows had blown in. Then we waited to see if they could survive the 10-15 foot anticipated storm surge. 

First we focused on their lives and then all their few, but most precious possessions. The surge never came and the roof remained, but we are all changed.  Below is a photo of one IRMA victim near their home. 

I began last night's negotiation class last night talking about times when negotiation is NOT possible -- IRMA you cannot negotiate with IRMA. And yesterday was the 9/11 anniversary. You cannot negotiate very well with folks willing to die to drive a plane into a building.  Accountability seems very clear in these instances; IRMA ruined the beaches and the terrorists killed those working in the Twin Towers.  This seems so clear. 


Is IRMA Innocent? 

Then a National Geographic video challenged this narrative that IRMA and her friend JOSE are at fault. They showed how rising sea temperatures increase the likelihood of category 4 and 5 hurricanes. Some scientists anticipate these can become the norm, not the exception. My parents survived one, but I am not sure they can survive another. 

National Geographic talked about how this administration will not acknowledge any connection between climate change and these hurricanes.  This made me wonder, who benefits when we externalize IRMA and JOSE making us innocent victims of these abstract, inhuman perpetrators?  Does industry benefit?  Do consumers unwilling to change their behavior benefit?

By naming them and blaming the storms, we opt out of responsibility wherever it does lie.  I am not a scientists, I cannot say whether rising temperatures are causing these hurricanes. But no one wants to inhale pollution, everyone wants clean water. Rather than just being victims of an outside terror, the storms are if not a call at least an opportunity to step up and cool down the planet. 
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Afghanistan
    Bullying
    Communism
    Computer Crash
    Conflict Resolution
    Customer Service
    Documentary
    Foreign Policy
    Global Solutions
    Healing
    Indonesia
    Language
    Language Of Conflict
    Life Coaching
    Military History
    Narrative
    Police Brutality
    Political Debate
    Relationships
    Transparency
    World Healling

    Archives

    July 2019
    May 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012

Proudly powered by Weebly