Raffi, genocide and OST

Fri Apr 22 01:55:13 PDT 2005

Dear Raffi,

I don't have long time so i will try to write shortly.

Many articles about that have been published in our newspapers.
One that has been very useful for me was a series of articles published
in one of the main nespaper (Milliyet) about 6 months ago.

This was written by a very famous  and popular journalist ( Filiz might know
; Can Dündar)
published after Can Dundar visited Armenia with a  group of people (
journalist, politicians, scientists) and
hold different meetings with different group of people.

So i can tell you that there are many different opinions, points of view,
ideas, suggestions about
what happened in 1915 and the claims of genocide.

I don't want to discuss about these here or somewhere else because this is
not very much
my domain.

But, i wanted to ask you something else....how you think we can collaborate
if you start the
discussion saying that ;
" i blame you, your history, your ancestors with genocide, and i want you to
accept this in front of all the world
and i want all the countries accept that "

We met at Goa and we discovered that we had many similarities.In the house i
grew up we had armenian neighbours
and we had very good relationship with them. But this blame and claim makes
me lose hope of any collaboration.

A relation of collaboration can not start like that. This is my feelings and
thoughts.

Funda

----- Original Message -----
From: "Raffi Aftandelian" <raffi at bk.ru>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: Raffi, genocide and OST

> Filiz,
> I want to say I think it's wonderful you've been to Armenia. What
> courage!
>
> I would very much like to meet you some day. And it would be great to
> work together on an OS.
>
> I have wanted to go to a PoP training. The announcement looks
> interesting, but I don't quite understand how it's different from
> an OST training.
>
> And I am very happy that you'll hold space on the 24th.
>
> We are all connected in more ways than we can imagine.
>
> My grandfather escaped northwest Iran (Tabriz) for Russia in 1910-1915
> to avoid the genocide coming to that country. And he was deported as a
> foreigner back to Iran in 1938.
>
> As a doctor with a private practice most of his patients were Azeri
> Iranians. He spoke Azeri with them. My grandparent's housekeeper was
> Azeri.
>
> Today, a number of people asked the question of what the point of the
> Poem in your pocket day was. I think that ultimately it's about all of
> us being in genuine contact with one another, to remind ourselves if
> only once a year that we are interconnected. All. Of. Us.
>
> Do you have a poem, Filiz?
>
> Funda,
> I appreciate you replying to what I wrote about the Genocide. I am so
> thankful that we met each other at the OSonOS in Goa. When I see your
> words, I recall those eyes of love and that warm smile. I know (if
> only a little bit) the human behind those words. And in the way I can
> I love you.
>
> All I can ask you, if you care to continue, is to unfold those
> feelings, whether privately (to yourself) or onlist.
>
> On one level I understand the sadness. On another level, there is
> "helpful" on the other side of the coin which has "helpless" looking up.
> Helpful for me would look like this:
>
> Writing a letter to a Turkish newspaper (a major daily) just sharing
> your questions on the Genocide. It can be on your sadness, on your
> sense of helplessness, whatever. But, for me is that any piece should
> ask the question. What the question is, you decide.
>
> Yes, I agree that it wouldn't make a lot of sense to hold an OST
> meeting on what happened in 1915. The other meeting you propose makes
> sense to me. AND, I would say, that I probably wouldn't wait even for
> the facilitator to finish opening the space to write my session topic
> for THAT meeting:
>
> "When/how are we going to recognize the Armenian Genocide?" and
> "What reparations should the Armenian people receive?"
>
> Do I feel that this conversation must receive an answer before there
> is ANY true collaboration between Turks and Armenians?
>
> No. But it sure would help.
>
> Otherwise, our collaboration would smack of dancing around our
> ancestors.
>
> Warmly,
> Raffi
>
>
>                           mailto:raffi at bk.ru
>
> *
> *
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>From  Fri Apr 22 07:54:56 2005
Message-Id: <FRI.22.APR.2005.075456.0400.>
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 07:54:56 -0400
Reply-To: diane.gibeault at rogers.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Diane Gibeault <diane.gibeault at rogers.com>
Subject: Deafened People thriving in OS
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Possibilities with Open Space are almost limitless.

Here is how I adapted the process to meet the challenges at hand for this
Open Space meeting for deafened people - people who once heard and spoke but
have now lost their hearing completely or in good part and have not
necessarily learned sign language or lip reading.

The invitation from a volunteer organization went to the community at large.
Over twenty people met for half a day. The theme was focussed on service and
access needs of deafened people. Communication was assisted by interpreters,
sound enhancing ear plugs and simultaneous captioning services enabling
participants to read spoken words on a large screen.

We were able to preserve the formation of the full circle of chairs by
having some of the hearing participants (partner accompanying a deafened
participant, sponsor of the organization, sign language interpreter and
facilitator) sit at one end of the circle, their backs to the screen which
other participants needed to see.

As the facilitator, I could not walk in the circle while speaking because it
would have interfered with the view of the screen but I did walk around the
circle once without speaking. I had told the group I would do so and that at
the same time, they were invited to let their eyes go around the circle,
acknowledging the richness of the people present. I made eye contact with
everyone, we all smiled and nodded to welcome each other and they did the
same with other participants. The circle was bound.

Harisson Owen’s “less is more” never was so true. To explain the process, I
had to speak slowly, using few words, choosing key important ones so that
the captioning note takers and interpreters would represent the ideas as
clearly and as completely as possible. Otherwise, they will cut on what was
said or put it in words that may not reflect as well what you wanted to say.
Beth Martin a OS trainee who assisted in the Open Space was asked by the
sponsor to take the role of reading the screen and signalling to me when I
had to slow down. If a message had been really distorted, she would have
caught it and let me know.

Participants wrote their topics and only when all had finished did they take
turns to announce them from their seat. This way, everyone could look at the
screen or interpreter. Otherwise, they would have missed the topic
announcements because they would be looking at their sheet while writing
their own topic. Participants with topics then picked up a Post-it with time
and place and put up their topics on the wall. After this first round, some
came up with more ideas for topics and we proceeded in the same way again.

Once all the topics were on the wall, further instructions were given and
off they went to sign up. If they needed to negotiate combinations or time
changes, they could communicate with each other by writing on the paper pad
they were given or calling upon an interpreter. Each meeting site had a
large screen computer and a note taker and participants sat around to read
on the screen what was being said. Interpreters went where they were needed.
There was a talking piece at every meeting site to help see who was
speaking. A real break was scheduled between the two discussion rounds to
give everyone a rest from reading.

Discussion reports were completed after the event, given it was only a half
day meeting. For reporting to the entire group at the end of the event, two
flip charts were placed near the circle in the plenary room and initiators
had been invited to write two or three lines that captured the key idea or
action coming out of their discussion. This encouraged them to organize
their thoughts and it condensed the reporting period. Initiators read their
two line reports that were captured by the interpreters and the larger
screen. Participants exchanged comments, reactions and more stories.

For the closing, the talking piece worked like it always does and words came
from the heart to bring meaningful closure to this event.

They were energised by this kind of exchange that brought them out of their
isolation. They would have wanted to keep on. They talked about having
another meeting. This kind of experience was a first of its kind for these
participants and for this community of people with hearing challenges. A few
months later, they formed a self-help group that is now meeting regularly.

The quickness of participants to take charge of the process, the level of
participation, the energy and the enthusiasm about the results and about
this way of meeting were the same as for all the other open space groups I
have facilitated. Open Space does work with any group as long as there is
passion for the reason that brings people together.

Diane Gibeault

Diane Gibeault CPF / FPA

Diane Gibeault & Assoc.

www.dianegibeault.com

diane.gibeault at rogers .com   Ottawa Canada   (613) 744-2638

Facilitation and Training in Support of Transformation
Facilitation et formation en appui à la transformation

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<o:p><FONT=20
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<FONT=20
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instructions were given and off they went to sign up. If they needed to=20
negotiate combinations or time changes, they could communicate with each =
other=20
by writing on the paper pad they were given or calling upon an =
interpreter. Each=20
meeting site had a large screen computer and a note taker and =
participants sat=20
around to read on the screen what was being said. Interpreters went =
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speaking. A real break was scheduled between the two discussion rounds =
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<o:p><FONT=20
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<FONT=20
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at the=20
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plenary=20
room and initiators had been invited to write two or three lines that =
captured=20
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organize their thoughts and it condensed the reporting period. =
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to keep on. They talked about having another meeting. This kind of =
experience=20
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people=20
with hearing challenges. A few months =
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formed a self-help group that is now meeting=20
regularly.
<o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </o:p>
<FONT=20
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charge of=20
the process, the level of participation, the energy and the enthusiasm =
about the=20
results and about this way of meeting were the same as for all the other =
open=20
space groups I have facilitated. Open Space does work with any group as =
long as=20
there is passion for the reason that brings people =
together.
<o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </o:p>
<o:p><FONT=20
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<DIV class=3DSection1>
<DIV>
Diane=20
Gibeault 
 
<FONT=20
color=3D#000080>Diane Gibeault =
CPF /=20
FPA
<SPAN=20
class=3DSpellE><SPAN =

style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><SPAN lang=3DFR-CA=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
FR-CA"><SPAN><STRONG><FONT=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN class=3DSpellE>Diane =
Gibeault</SPAN> & <SPAN=20
class=3DSpellE>Assoc.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></o:p></=
SPAN></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN lang=3DFR-CA=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
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style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
FR-CA"><SPAN><FONT=20
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lang=3DFR-CA=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
FR-CA"><SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3DSpellE><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN =

style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><A=20
href=3D"http://www.dianegibeault.com/"><STRONG><FONT=20
color=3D#0080c0>www.dianegibeault.com</FONT></STRONG></A><FONT =
color=3D#000000=20
size=3D3><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>=
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></=
o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN lang=3DFR-CA=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
FR-CA"><SPAN><FONT=20
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class=3DSpellE></SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></o=
:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
lang=3DFR-CA=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
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style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><SPAN=20
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style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><A=20
href=3D"http://www.dianegibeault.comgibeault@rogers%20.com/"><STRONG><FON=
T=20
color=3D#0080c0 size=3D1>diane.gibeault at rogers =
.com</FONT></STRONG></A><STRONG><FONT=20
color=3D#0080c0 size=3D1>  =20
</FONT></STRONG></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT=20
size=3D1><FONT color=3D#0080c0><STRONG>Ottawa Canada   (613)=20
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FR-CA"><SPAN><FONT=20
color=3D#0080c0><BR></FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=3DFR-CA=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: =
FR-CA"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: blue"><FONT face=3D"Eras Demi ITC"=20
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<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN lang=3DFR-CA=20
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FR-CA"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: blue"><FONT face=3D"Eras Demi ITC" =
color=3D#000080>Facilitation <SPAN=20
class=3DSpellE>and</SPAN> Training in Support of =
Transformation<BR>Facilitation et=20
formation en appui =E0 la transformation<BR></FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR></P></SPAN>
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