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| Panel discussion on safe spaces at Brookings Institution. |
That was a part of the conversations we had about countering violent extremism
organized by Muslim Public Affairs Council.
When our youth cannot find answers to their questions from the ‘right
sources’ they turn to any source to gobble up the answers, and bad guys are
always waiting to pounce on them, they know how to lure them.
Safe conversations in a nutshell are providing safe space to everyone to have a
conversation, particularly youth who are vulnerable. Most of the time, merely
expressing a thought and someone listening to them brings a relief.
Take a toddler for example, he or she screams for things, parents can train him
to “ask and wait” or not respond and let the toddler scream greater, and if no
one pays attention, he throws fits, and then throws things and becomes
destructive.
something, if no one wants to see or hear him or her, or if the expression gets
suppressed, it can take many forms. We have to consciously watch the
vulnerable, whoever can get to them first, can shape what they become.
Don’t wait for others, if we do our share, things will start improving. The best thing you can do for others is listen.
people around me, that is, if others are not safe, I won’t be safe. Each one of
us has to take the responsibility to encourage goodness in others.
Ghouse
Text or Talk at (214) 325-1916
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community
consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign
policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at
www.MikeGhouse.net for his writings at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs
listed there in.