• Raise awareness of interconnectedness on a personal (i.e., the relationship between thoughts, emotions and actions), inter-personal and global level
• Bear witness to the personal narrative
• Dispel fear and misunderstanding
• Realize the potential for reconciliation and peace

  "To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we take sides, it is impossible to do the work of reconciliation. And humans want to take sides. That is why the situation gets worse and worse. Are there people who are still available to both sides. They need not do much. They need do only one thing: Go to one side and tell all about the suffering endured by the other side, and go to the other side and tell all about the suffering endured by this side. This is our chance for peace. But how many of us are able to do that?"

-Thich Nhat Hanh

The aforementioned quote by Vietnamese Zen Master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Thich Nhat Hanh, concludes with a provocative question that unearths a fundamental challenge to reconciliation: Who is available to bear witness to the suffering of both sides? Who will share the stories that hold this suffering? Who will listen?

The Middle East Poetry Project manifests a means (video-conferencing technology), medium (poetic performances) and an audience for the personal narrative - complete with its individual truth, joy and suffering. The Middle East Poetry Project addresses many of the barriers encountered in traditional dialogue initiatives. For example, the use of video-conferencing technology allows participants to interact with the other from the physical and emotional safety of their home. In America, Israel, and Palestine a Home Facilitator will be employed to curate each poetic performance. Responsibilities will include traditional organizational items such as auditions and publicity, but will also encompass project specific tasks such as:

The use of poetry and other artistic forms of expression such as music and song mitigate the resistance to interacting with the other. Humanizing the other’s narrative creates a space and time conducive to telling, listening to, and understanding stories.

Telling, listening to, and understanding stories is the work of the Middle East Poetry Project. Validating and affirming an individual’s truth, her poetry and expression is the work of the Middle East Poetry Project. We seek to create a space and time where the individual is empowered, and the story can be told and heard.

This process does not necessitate agreement; it does not determine right and wrong; and it does not pass judgement.

The Middle East Poetry Project is an artistic bridge.

For more information or to contribute to the Middle East Poetry Project, write to Ian Koebner at ikoebner@wesleyan.edu