Op ed: Tucson on our minds

Elizabeth Lesser addresses the audience at TEDx Women/image via blog.ted.comOver the weekend a disturbed young man opened fire at a supermarket in Tucson Arizona, killing six and gravely wounding Representative Gabrielle Giffords. In light of this horrible tragedy, the SW team would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of the victims that did not survive and our most heartfelt wish for the speedy recovery of the wounded still in the hospital. 

As the national struggles to understand this event, and where the blame for it truly lies, we are reminded of Elizabeth Lesser's presentation at Tedx Women last month, in which she cautioned about 'otherizing' persons with different political views than your own. "Take the other to lunch" she recommended as way to get to know someone you may have previously stereotyped.  Lesser explained that as a liberal writer and healer she had lunch with Tea Party member. Before the event they set ground rules to minimize conflict, and they both took the time to really listen to one another.  The outcome? Lesser and her lunch partner learned they had common ground, and that neither was 'other' any longer.

While it may be unrealistic to hope that sandwich-sharing will break out all over the United States in the coming weeks helping us all to put the histrionics and name calling aside and get back to the work of fixing our many problems, Lesser's call to action feels more important than ever in light of the tragedy and the fall-out around it. 

Elizabeth Lesser is the co-founder of The Omega Institute, a non profit organization that seeks to use "innovative educational experiences that awaken the best in the human spirit,  and provide hope and healing for individuals and society."  For more on Lesser and the Omega Institute please visit the organization's official home page.