Continuing with the topic of Intercultural Conflict Resolution, I have Lederach on my mind. Lederach is a peace studies scholar that has a lot to say regarding the understanding a use of culture in the models that are currently used in the world of conflict resolution. One of the things that he talks about is the idea of using the culture as the base for which to base the principles of conflict resolution. Instead of taking the principles and then tailoring them to the culture, you would take the culture and see how the principles can fit into that culture, based on the ideas and cultural understandings of peace that are already in existence within that culture. I love this idea. I also love the idea of Intercultural conflict resolution because in my opinion, we are always dealing with other cultures, and every interaction that we have is one of at least two cultures coming together at a moment in time to have a conversation or an interaction.
With this in mind, I am hoping to continue to better understand the Latino Culture and see how the principles of conflict resolution can then be implemented into the existing cultural understandings of peace and conflict resolution. Obviously as a "gringo" there is only so much that I am able to do, and so much that I can learn without having grown up in the culture, but that WILL NOT prevent me from trying to know and learn as much as possible... because, let's face it, I love la gente latina and I always will. Ideally we will create a program that will be operated by Latinos, which will fill a gap that I may be unable to fill, which is why it is so critical that I do all I can now to prepare the way and make the transition a positive one and a smoother one.
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