Processions
Thrum. Thrum. Bong. Bong. Step. Step. The sounds of the Queen of England’s funeral events had a somber musical score to match the occasion. A riveting theme for Britain and around the world. Throngs of well-wishers lined the avenues. Some commented that, despite the deep divides in that county and the vestiges of the colonial empire, the event of her death was uniting. At least for a historical moment.
The procession of the forty-eight migrants who arrived on Martha’s Vineyard lacked pomp, pageantry, as well as the precision planning such as that involved in the royal ceremonies on the other side of the Atlantic. I imagine the quiet of an Island late afternoon with birds chirping and leaves rustling as these displaced humans arrived, unannounced, at the Community Services campus. Within hours, though, scores of Islanders learned about these people who needed help. United around an unforeseen set of events, locals saw to it that emergency arrangements were made, Spanish speakers enlisted. Food, shelter, medical attention, and legal help were organized. It took no time at all to create bonds of human kindness. As they left three days later, a throng of well-wishers lined up to say goodbye, one by one, to each of the visitors.
The juxtaposition of these two current events has stayed with me. As I have taught, mediated, facilitated, and administrated this week I’ve held on to the idea of creating a community of kindness and service. It’s not unrelated to conflict resolution work. We humans yearn to be part of a community to which we belong. Conflict can be avoided when a bonded group can unite around a common purpose and see themselves as part of an us--instead of distancing from others and sorting those others into a them.
Sara Barnes, Executive Director
Read the rest of Mediation Musings here