In his book Dialogue and the art of thinking together William Isaacs tells of a charged meeting of Russians and Chechens.
At the first toast of the evening the negotiatior/facilitator of the session stood up and said: “Up until a few days ago I had been with my mother in New Mexico… She is dying of cancer. I debated whether to come here at all to participate in this gathering. But when I told her that I was coming to help facilitate a dialogue among all of you, in this important place on earth, she ordered me to come. There was no debate. So here I am. I raise my glass to mothers.” There followed a long moment of silence in the room.
It is in courageous moments like these that the promise of dialogue shows itself.
