Camino del NO al SÍ - William Ury

Summary

El orador comparte una parábola de camellos para ilustrar cómo abordar negociaciones difíciles, sugiriendo que a veces se necesita un 'camello adicional' para resolver conflictos. Luego, explora la idea de la 'tercera parte' en conflictos, que son las comunidades circundantes que pueden influir positivamente. Utiliza la historia de Abraham y su mensaje de unidad y hospitalidad como un posible antídoto contra el terrorismo y la intolerancia religiosa. Propone la 'Sendero de Abraham', una ruta que sigue los pasos de Abraham a través del Medio Oriente, como un medio para promover la paz y el entendimiento entre diferentes culturas, también generando un impacto económico positivo en las comunidades locales.

Takeaways

• 🐫 La historia de los 17 camellos ilustra cómo resolver negociaciones difíciles al encontrar una solución creativa que beneficia a todos los involucrados.
• 👦 La parábola de los hermanos y la mujer sabia resalta la importancia de adoptar una perspectiva fresca y colaborativa para resolver conflictos.
• 🌏 El orador compara la humanidad con una gran familia, destacando la necesidad de encontrar formas de manejar nuestras diferencias y conflictos en un mundo interconectado.
• 🕊️ El secreto de la paz es actuar como la 'tercera parte' en los conflictos, es decir, la comunidad que rodea el conflicto y puede desempeñar un papel constructivo.
• 💡 La 'tercera parte' puede ayudar recordando a las partes en conflicto lo que realmente está en juego y fomentando el diálogo en lugar de la confrontación.
• 🌍 La historia del Camino de Abraham se presenta como un ejemplo práctico de cómo la 'tercera parte' puede influir positivamente en la resolución de conflictos a través de la caminata y la hospitalidad.
• 👣 La caminata en los pasos de Abraham es una forma de vivir y experimentar la historia, lo que puede ser un poderoso catalizador para la unidad y la comprensión.
• 📚 La importancia de las historias en la vida humana es subrayada, dado que transmiten conocimientos y dan significado a nuestras vidas.
• 🕌 El Camino de Abraham se está convirtiendo en una realidad, con miles de personas caminando partes del camino y disfrutando de la hospitalidad en el Medio Oriente.
• 💸 El Camino de Abraham tiene un impacto económico positivo, ya que al atraer a los visitantes, puede mejorar la vida de las comunidades locales y promover el turismo.
• 🌳 La metáfora del bellote y el árbol de roble representa el potencial de crecimiento y desarrollo del Camino de Abraham, sugiriendo que, con tiempo y esfuerzo, puede transformarse en algo grande y poderoso.

Q & A

¿Cuál es la historia favorita del narrador sobre negociación y cómo se relaciona con las negociaciones difíciles?

La historia favorita del narrador es sobre un hombre del Medio Oriente que dejó 17 camellos a sus tres hijos, asignándoles diferentes porciones que no podían dividir fácilmente. Esta historia se relaciona con las negociaciones difíciles porque ilustra cómo una solución aparentemente imposible (17 camellos) puede ser resuelta con una perspectiva fresca (agregar un camello más), similar a cómo se enfrentan a conflictos en la vida real.

¿Qué rol desempeña la comunidad circundante en la resolución de conflictos según el narrador?

Según el narrador, la comunidad circundante, o el 'tercer lado', puede desempeñar un papel constructivo en la resolución de conflictos. Pueden recordar a las partes lo que realmente está en juego y ayudarles a mantener la perspectiva, evitando que se pierdan en la reacción emocional.

¿Cómo describe el narrador la historia de la comunidad de los Bushmen y cómo resuelven las diferencias?

El narrador describe que cuando las tensiones aumentan en la comunidad de los Bushmen, alguien oculta las flechas venenosas y la comunidad se reúne en círculo para hablar. Pueden hablar durante días hasta encontrar una resolución o una reconciliación. Si las tensiones siguen altas, envían a alguien a visitar parientes para un período de enfriamiento.

¿Qué es el 'tercer lado' de un conflicto según el concepto del narrador?

El 'tercer lado' de un conflicto, según el narrador, es la comunidad circundante, incluyendo amigos, aliados, familiares y vecinos. Estos individuos pueden influir positivamente en la resolución de conflictos al recordarle a las partes lo que realmente está en juego y ayudarles a mantener la perspectiva.

¿Cómo se relaciona la historia de Abraham con el concepto de 'tercer lado'?

La historia de Abraham se relaciona con el 'tercer lado' porque él representa la unidad y la hospitalidad, valores que el narrador sugiere que pueden ser la base para la resolución de conflictos y la promoción de la paz. Abraham puede ser visto como el 'tercer lado' simbólico que recuerda a las personas que forman parte de algo más grande.

¿Qué es la 'Vía de Abraham' y cómo se relaciona con la idea del 'tercer lado'?

La 'Vía de Abraham' es una ruta inspirada en las huellas de Abraham, que atraviesa varios países del Medio Oriente. Se relaciona con la idea del 'tercer lado' porque promueve la hospitalidad y el contacto entre diferentes culturas, lo que puede ayudar a cambiar la narrativa de hostilidad a hospitalidad y de terrorismo a turismo.

¿Cómo el narrador sugiere que la historia de Abraham podría ser un antídoto al terrorismo y a la intolerancia religiosa?

El narrador sugiere que la historia de Abraham, que promueve la hospitalidad y el trato de los extraños con respeto, puede ser un antídoto al terrorismo y a la intolerancia religiosa al fomentar la comprensión y el entendimiento entre las personas de diferentes orígenes y creencias.

¿Qué impacto económico tiene la 'Vía de Abraham' según el narrador?

Según el narrador, la 'Vía de Abraham' tiene un impacto económico positivo, ya que al atraer a personas de diferentes lugares para caminar la ruta, estas personas gastan dinero en las comunidades locales, lo que puede ayudar a mejorar la vida de los habitantes y promover el desarrollo económico.

¿Cómo el narrador describe su experiencia personal durante las negociaciones entre Rusia y Chechenia?

El narrador describe una experiencia en la que, durante las negociaciones, el vicepresidente de Chechenia acusó a los rusos de cometer crímenes de guerra y criticó a los estadounidenses por sus acciones en Puerto Rico. El narrador, recordando la importancia de mantener la perspectiva, agradeció las críticas y redirigió la conversación hacia la resolución del conflicto en Chechenia.

¿Qué es el 'tercer lado' y cómo cada individuo puede contribuir a él según el narrador?

El 'tercer lado' es la comunidad circundante que puede influir positivamente en la resolución de conflictos. Cada individuo puede contribuir al 'tercer lado' tomando pequeñas acciones, como iniciar conversaciones con personas de diferentes orígenes y culturas, escuchándolas y aprendiendo de ellas.

¿Cómo concluye el narrador sobre la posibilidad de transformar conflictos en todo el mundo?

El narrador concluye que en los últimos 35 años, mientras trabajó en conflictos peligrosos y difíciles en todo el mundo, nunca ha visto un conflicto que no pudiera ser transformado. Depende de la acción del 'tercer lado', es decir, de cada individuo, para contribuir a la paz y a la transformación de los conflictos.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 La sabiduría de la mujer sabia y la resolución de conflictos

El primer párrafo relata una anécdota de Oriente Medio sobre un hombre que deja 17 camellos a sus tres hijos, causando un conflicto porque la herencia no se divide equitativamente entre ellos. La situación se complica hasta que consultan a una mujer sabia, quien les ofrece su camello, facilitando así una solución justa y equitativa para todos los hermanos. Este cuento simboliza la resolución de conflictos difíciles, sugiriendo que a veces se necesita un enfoque externo y fresco para encontrar soluciones creativas. Además, el narrador compara la historia con los conflictos mundiales y cómo la humanidad, como una gran familia, puede superar sus diferencias y conflictos a través de la comunicación y la comunidad.

05:02

🌟 El papel del 'tercer lado' en la resolución de conflictos

El segundo párrafo profundiza en la idea del 'tercer lado' en la resolución de conflictos, que representa a la comunidad que rodea a las partes en conflicto y puede influir positivamente en la situación. El narrador comparte su experiencia como facilitador en conversaciones difíciles entre líderes de Rusia y Chechenia, demostrando cómo mantener la perspectiva y el enfoque en la resolución del conflicto es crucial. Luego, explora la posibilidad de aplicar esta idea al conflicto del Medio Oriente, sugiriendo que la historia y la narrativa tienen un papel fundamental en la comprensión y resolución de conflictos, y plantea la historia de Abraham como un posible 'tercer lado' que promueve la unidad y la hospitalidad.

10:03

🚶‍♂️ La senda de Abraham: un camino hacia la hospitalidad y la paz

El tercer párrafo describe un proyecto inspirado en la vida de Abraham, que busca promover la paz y la hospitalidad a través de la creación de una ruta que sigue sus pasos a través de varios países del Medio Oriente. El narrador comparte su experiencia al recorrer esta ruta, donde se encontró con la hospitalidad inesperada de las comunidades locales. Destaca cómo este proyecto no solo tiene un impacto psicológico y social, sino que también tiene beneficios económicos, ya que los visitantes generan ingresos para las comunidades locales. Además, el narrador sugiere que este tipo de iniciativas pueden ser un punto de partida para cambiar la narrativa de hostilidad a hospitalidad y de terrorismo a turismo.

15:04

🌳 La transformación de conflictos a través del 'tercer lado'

El cuarto y último párrafo concluye con una reflexión sobre la posibilidad de transformar cualquier conflicto, basándose en la experiencia del narrador en conflictos a lo largo del mundo. Se enfatiza la creencia de que, con la participación activa del 'tercer lado', cada individuo puede contribuir a la paz mundial. El narrador invita a la audiencia a considerar unirse al 'tercer lado', comenzando con pequeños actos de diálogo y entendimiento entre personas de diferentes orígenes. Finalmente, comparte un acorn, un símbolo de potencial y crecimiento, para ilustrar la esperanza de que la senda de Abraham y el 'tercer lado' pueden evolucionar y tener un impacto significativo en la resolución de conflictos y la promoción de la paz.

Keywords

💡Negociación

La negociación es el proceso de diálogo entre dos o más partes con el objetivo de alcanzar un acuerdo o solución a un conflicto. En el video, la negociación se presenta como una herramienta clave para resolver problemas complejos, como se ilustra con la historia de los tres hermanos y sus 17 camellos.

💡Cámara de enfoque

La 'cámara de enfoque' o 'balcony perspective' se refiere a la capacidad de observar una situación desde una perspectiva más amplia y objetiva. En el video, se menciona como una técnica para manejar la presión en negociaciones difíciles, recordándonos la importancia de mantener la calma y enfocarnos en los objetivos a largo plazo.

💡Tercera parte

La 'tercera parte' es un concepto clave en el discurso que se refiere a la comunidad o individuos que rodean un conflicto y que pueden influir positivamente en su resolución. El orador sugiere que cada uno de nosotros puede ser una 'tercera parte' que promueve la paz y la reconciliación.

💡Conflicto

El conflicto es la lucha o desacuerdo entre dos o más partes interesadas. El video explora cómo los conflictos pueden surgir y cómo pueden ser administrados o transformados, citando ejemplos de conflictos en diferentes partes del mundo.

💡Abraham

Abraham es una figura histórica y religiosa mencionada en el video como un símbolo de unidad y hospitalidad. Su historia se utiliza para promover la idea de la 'tercera parte' y como un potencial antídoto contra el terrorismo y la intolerancia religiosa.

💡Hospitalidad

La hospitalidad se refiere a la amabilidad y el cuidado hacia los visitantes o extraños. En el video, la hospitalidad es destacada como un valor fundamental de Abraham y como un principio que puede desempeñar un papel en la prevención del terrorismo y la promoción de la paz.

💡Camino de Abraham

El 'Camino de Abraham' es una ruta inspirada en la vida de Abraham, diseñada para promover la comprensión y la unidad a través de la caminata en sus pasos. El video narra cómo este camino ha sido utilizado para fomentar la hospitalidad y el turismo, y cómo ha impactado positivamente a las comunidades locales.

💡Transformación

La transformación se refiere a un cambio profundo y significativo. En el contexto del video, la transformación se refiere a la capacidad de cambiar conflictos intractables en oportunidades para la reconciliación y la cooperación, como se demuestra con el ejemplo del Camino de Abraham.

💡Identidad común

La 'identidad común' es el sentido de pertenencia y unión que se puede desarrollar entre grupos o individuos que comparten un origen o un ideal común. En el video, la identidad común se presenta como un factor crucial para la construcción de la paz y la prosperidad en la región del Medio Oriente.

💡Economía común

La 'economía común' implica la colaboración y la integración económica entre diferentes entidades. El orador sugiere que el turismo, impulsado en parte por el Camino de Abraham, puede ser un motor para la economía común y, por ende, para la paz en la región.

Highlights

A man left 17 camels to his three sons, creating a negotiation challenge as the number doesn't divide evenly.

The sons consulted a wise old woman who offered her camel to resolve the division issue.

With 18 camels, the sons were able to divide them according to their shares, leaving one camel to give back to the wise woman.

The story illustrates the importance of stepping back and finding creative solutions in negotiations.

The speaker sees humanity as one family, connected through communication, yet riddled with conflicts.

The speaker has spent decades mediating conflicts around the world, seeking the secret to peace.

The secret to peace is the 'third side', the surrounding community that can play a constructive role in conflict resolution.

The 'third side' helps by reminding parties of what's at stake and encouraging dialogue over conflict.

The speaker shares a personal negotiation experience where he used the 'third side' perspective to redirect a conversation.

The Middle East conflict is presented as an example where the 'third side' could potentially play a significant role.

Abraham's story is suggested as a 'third side' narrative that promotes unity, respect, and hospitality.

The concept of the Abraham Path is introduced as a way to experience and spread the story of Abraham.

The Abraham Path has been walked by thousands, fostering connections and understanding among different communities.

The path has economic benefits, providing income to local communities through tourism and hospitality.

The speaker envisions the Abraham Path as a game changer, potentially transforming the Middle East through unity and tourism.

The speaker concludes by encouraging everyone to take the 'third side', contributing to peace through small acts of understanding and connection.

Transcripts

well the subject of difficult

negotiation reminds me of one of my

favorite stories from the Middle East of

a man who left to his three sons 17

camels and to the first son he left half

the camels to the second son he left a

third of the camels and to the youngest

son he left a ninth of the camels well

three son's got into a negotiation 17

doesn't divide by two it doesn't divide

by three it doesn't divide by nine

brotherly temper started to get strained

finally in desperation they went and

they consulted a wise old woman the wise

old woman thought about their problem

for a long time and finally she came

back and said well I don't know if I can

help you but at least if you want you

can have my camel so then they had 18

camels the first son took his half half

of 18 is nine the second son took his

third a third of 18 is is six the

youngest son took his ninth a ninth of

18 is two you get 17 they had one camel

left over they gave it back to the wise

old

woman now if you think about that story

for a moment I think it resembles a lot

of the difficult negotiations we get

involved in they start off like 17

camels no way to resolve it somehow what

we need to do is step back from those

situations like that wise old woman look

at the situation through fresh eyes and

come up with an 18

camel now finding that 18th camel in the

world's conflict has been my life

passion I basically see Humanity a bit

like those three brothers we're all one

family we know that scientifically

thanks to the communications Revolution

all the tribes on the planet all 15,000

tribes are in touch with each

other and it's a big family reunion and

yet like many family reunions it's not

all peace and light there's a lot of

conflict

and the question is how do we deal with

our differences how do we deal with our

deepest differences given the human

propensity for conflict and the human

genius at devising weapons of enormous

destruction that's the question as I've

spent the last better part of three

decades almost four traveling the world

trying to work getting involved in

conflicts ranging from Yugoslavia to the

Middle East to Chia to Venezuela

some of the most difficult conflicts on

the face of the planet I've been asking

myself that question and I think I've

found in some ways what is the secret to

peace it's actually surprisingly simple

it's not easy but it's simple it's not

even new it's maybe our one of our most

ancient human heritages the secret to

peace is us it's us who act as a

surrounding Community around any

conflict who can play a constructive

role let me give you just a story an

example about 20 years ago I was in

South Africa working with the parties in

that conflict and I had an extra month

so I spent some time living with several

groups of s Bushmen I was curious about

them about the way in which they resolve

conflict because after all they're

within living memory they were hunters

and gatherers living pretty much like

our ancestors live for maybe 99% of the

human story and all the men have these

poison arrows that they use for hunting

absolutely fatal so how do they deal

with their differences well what I

learned is whenever tempers rise in

those communities someone goes and hides

the poison arrows out in the bush and

then everyone sits around in a circle

like this and they sit and they talk and

they talk it may take two days 3 days

four days but they don't rest until they

find a resolution or better yet a

Reconciliation and if tempers are still

too high then they send someone off to

visit some relatives there's a cooling

off period Well that system is I think

probably the system that kept us alive

to this point given our human

tendencies that system I call the third

side because if you think about it

normally when we think of conflict when

we describe it there's always two sides

you know it's Arabs versus Israelis

labor versus management husband versus

wife Republicans versus Democrats but

what we don't often see is that there's

always a third side and the third side

of the conflict is us it's the

surrounding Community it's the friends

the Allies the family members the

neighbors and we can play an incredibly

constructive role perhaps the most

fundamental way in which the third side

can help is to remind the parties of

what's really at stake you know for the

sake of the kids for the sake of the

family for the sake of the community for

the sake of the future let's stop

fighting for a moment and start talking

because the thing is when we're involved

in conflict it's very easy to lose

perspective it's very easy to react

human beings were reaction machines and

as the saying goes when angry you will

make the best speech you will ever

regret and so the third side reminds us

of that the third side helps us go to

the balcony which is a metaphor for a

place of perspective where we can keep

our eyes on the prize let me tell you a

little story from my own negotiating

experience some years ago I was involved

as a facilitator in some very tough

talks between the leaders of Russia and

the leaders of

chia there was a war going on as you

know and we met in the heg in the peace

Palace in the same room where the

Yugoslav war crimes tribunal was taking

place and the talks got off to a rather

Rocky start when the vice president of

chcha began by pointing at the Russians

and said you should stay right here in

your seats because you're going to be on

trial for war crimes and then he went on

and then he turned to me and said you're

an American look at what you Americans

are doing in Puerto Rico and my mind

started racing Puerto Rico what do I

know about Puerto Rico I started

reacting but then I tried to remember to

go to the balcony and then when he

paused and everyone looked at me for a

response from a balcony perspective I

was able to thank him for his remarks

and say I appreciate your criticism of

my country and I take it as a sign that

we're among friends and can speak

candidly to one another and what we're

here to do is not to talk about Puerto

Rico or the past we're here to do just

to see if we can figure out a way to

stop the suffering and the Bloodshed in

Cheta the conversation got back on track

that's the role of the third side is to

help the parties go to the

balcony now let me take you for a moment

to what's widely regarded as the world's

most difficult conflict and the most

impossible conflict is the Middle East

question is where's the third side there

how could we possibly go to the balcony

now I don't pretend to have an answer to

the Middle East conflict but I think

I've got a first step literally a first

step something that any one of us could

do as third ciders let me just ask you

one question first how many of you in

the last years have ever found yourself

worrying about the Middle East and

wondering what anyone could do just just

out of curiosity how many of you okay so

the great majority of us and here it's

so far away why do we pay so much

attention to this conflict is it the

number of deaths there are 100 times

more people who die in a conflict in

Africa than in the Middle East no it's

because of the story because we feel

personally involved in that story

whether we're Christians Muslims or Jews

religious or non-religious we feel we

have a personal stake in it stories

matter as an anthropologist I know that

stories are what we use to transmit

knowledge to give meaning to our lives

that's what we tell here at Ted we tell

stories

stories are the key and so my question

is

is yes let's try and resolve the

politics there in the Middle East but

let's also take a look at the story

let's try to get at the root of what

it's all about let's see if we can apply

the third side to it what would that

mean what is the story there now as

anthropologists we know that every

culture has an origin

story what's the origin story of the

Middle East in a phrase It's 4,000 years

ago a man and his family walked across

the Middle East and the world has never

been the same since that man of course

was

Abraham and what he stood for was Unity

the unity of the family he's the father

of us all but it's not just what he

stood for it's what his message was his

basic message was Unity too the

interconnectedness of it all the unity

of it all and his Basic Value was

respect was kindness towards strangers

that's what he's known for is

Hospitality so in that sense he's the

symbolic third side of the Middle East

he's the one who reminds us that we're

all part of a greater hole now how would

you now think about that for a

moment we today we Face the scourge of

terrorism what is Terrorism terrorism is

basically taking an innocent stranger

and treating them as an enemy whom you

kill in order to create fear what's the

opposite of terrorism it's taking an

innocent stranger and treating them as a

friend whom you welcome into your home

in order to sew and create understanding

or respect or

love so what if then you took the story

of Abraham which is a third Side Story

what if that could be actually an ant

because Abraham stands for

Hospitality what if that could be an

antidote to terrorism what if that could

be a vaccine against religious

intolerance how would you bring that

story to life now it's not enough just

to tell a story that's powerful but

people need to experience the story they

need to be able to live the story how

would you do that and that was my

thinking of how would you do that and

that's what comes to the first step here

because the simple way to do that is you

go for a walk you go for a walk in the

footsteps of Abraham you retrace the

footsteps of Abraham him because walking

has a real power you know as an

anthropologist walking is what made us

human walking it's funny when you walk

you walk side by side in the same common

Direction now if I were to come to you

face to face and come this close to you

you would

feel

threatened but if I walk shoulder Tosh

shoulder even touching shoulders it's no

problem who fights while they walk

that's why negotiations often when the

things get tough people go for walks in

the woods so the idea came to me of what

about inspiring a path a route think the

silk route think the Appalachian Trail

that followed in the footsteps of

Abraham people said that's crazy you

can't you can't retrace the footsteps of

Abraham it's too insecure you can't

across all these borders it goes across

10 different countries in the Middle

East because it unites them all and so

we studied the idea at Harvard we did

our due diligence and then a few years

ago a group of us about 25 of us from 10

different countries decided to see if we

could retrace the footsteps of Abraham

going from his additional birthplace in

the city of Ura in southern turkey

northern

Mesopotamia and we then took a bus and

took some walks and went to haran where

in the Bible he sets off on his journey

then we crossed the border into Syria

went to Aleppo which turns out is named

after Abraham we went to Damascus which

has a long history associated with

Abraham we then came to Northern Jordan

to Jerusalem which is all about Abraham

to Bethlehem and finally to the place

where he's buried in Hebron so

effectively we went from womb to tomb we

showed it could be done it was an

amazing journey let me ask you a

question how many of you have had the

experience of being in a strange

neighborhood or Strange

Land and a total stranger Perfect

Stranger comes up to you and shows you

some kindness maybe invites you into

their home gives you a drink gives you a

coffee gives you a meal how many of you

have ever had that

experience that's the essence of of the

Abraham path that's what you discover as

you go into these villages in the Middle

East where you expect hostility and you

get the most amazing Hospitality all

associated with Abraham in the name of

father ibraim let me let me offer you

some food so what we discovered is that

Abraham is not just a figure out of a

book for those people he's alive is a

living presence and to make a long story

short in the last couple of years now

thousands of people have begun to walk

parts of the path of Abraham in the

Middle East enjoying the hospitality of

the people there they begun to walk in

Israel in Palestine in Jordan in Turkey

in Syria it's an amazing experience men

women young people old people more women

than men actually interestingly for

those who can't walk

uh who are unable to get there right now

people started to organize walks in

cities in their own communities in

Cincinnati for instance they organized a

walk from a church to a mosque to a

synagogue and then all had an abrahamic

meal together it was Abraham path day in

s Paulo Brazil it's become an annual

event for thousands of people to run in

a virtual Abraham path run uniting the

different communities the media love it

they really adore it they lavish

attention on it uh because it's Visual

and it spreads the idea aide this idea

of Abraham and a Hospitality of kindness

towards

strangers and uh just a couple weeks ago

there was an NPR story on it uh last

month there was a piece in the in the

guardian uh in the Manchester Guardian

uh about it two two whole pages uh and

they quoted a quoted a villager who said

this walk connects us to the world was

he said it was like a light that went on

in our lives it brought us hope

and so that's what it's about but it's

not just about psychology it's about

economics because as people walk they

spend money and this woman right here

ummad is a woman who lives on the path

in Northern Jordan uh she's desperately

poor she's partially blind her husband

uh can't work she's got seven kids but

one she can do is cook and so she's

begun to cook for some groups of Walkers

who come through the village and have a

meal in her home they sit on the floor

she doesn't even have a tablecloth she

makes the most delicious food that's

fresh from the herbs in the surrounding

Countryside and so more and more walkers

have come and lately she's begun to earn

an income to support her family and so

she told our our team there she said you

have made me

visible in a village where people were

once ashamed to look at

me that's the potential of the Abraham

path there are literally hundreds of

those kind of communities across the

middle east across the

path the potential is basically to

change the game and to change the game

you have to change the frame the way we

see things to change the frame from

hostility to hospitality from terrorism

to tourism and in that sense the Abraham

path is a game changer let me just show

you one thing I have a Little Acorn here

that I picked up while I was walking on

on the path earlier this year now the

acorn is associated with the oak tree of

course grows into an oak tree which is

associated with Abraham the path right

now is like an acorn it's still in its

early phase what would the oak tree look

like well I think back to my childhood a

good part of which I spent after being

born here in Chicago I I spent in Europe

if you had been in the ruins of say

London in 1945 or Berlin and you had

said 60 years from now this is going to

be the most peaceful prosperous part of

the planet people would have thought you

were certifiably insane but they did it

thanks to a common identity Europe and a

common economy so my question is if it

could be done in Europe why not in the

Middle East why not thanks to a common

identity which is the story of Abraham

and thanks to a common economy that

would be based in good part on

tourism so let me conclude then

by saying that in the last 35 years as

I've worked in some of the most

dangerous difficult and intractable

conflicts around the planet I have yet

to see one conflict that I felt could

not be

transformed it's not easy of course but

it's possible it was done in South

Africa it was done in Northern Ireland

it could be done anywhere it simply

depends on us it depends on us taking

the third side so let me invite you to

consider taking the third side even as a

very small step we're about to take a

break in a moment just go up to someone

who's from a different culture a

different country a different ethnicity

some difference and engage them in a

conversation listen to them that's a

third side act that's walking Abraham's

path after a TED Talk why not a Ted

walk so let me just leave you with three

things one is the secret to peace is the

third side the third side is US each of

us with a single

step can take the world can bring the

world a step closer to

peace there's an old African proverb

that goes when spiderwebs unite they can

halt even the lion if we're able to

unite our third side webs of peace

we can even halt the lion of War thank

you very

much