Last Thursday, more than 100 people ignored the snow and traveled to Herndon to answer some questions: Who is "us"? What has been your experience with "us"?; Who is "they"? What has been your experience with "they"?; and Do we need "us" and "they" to hate/love? What can we commit to do differently?
Finding the one true answer was not to point of the multicultural town meeting. Instead, the idea was to make people think, not only about their community, but themselves.
"I almost wasn't going to come, but I decided it was a good thing to do," said Nasser Thalji of Fairfax. "I'm interested in other people's ideas. My opinion can't be the only opinion. I've learned about other people and it helped me learn about myself."
THE TOWN MEETING was the third in a series of at least four, possibly five, such events to explore the community's thoughts and feelings since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The event, sponsored by the Fairfax County Communities in Action and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board's Community Resilience Project, in cooperation with George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) team, focused on the effects of stereotyping. Previous meetings included topics such as symbols of patriotism and issues of safety. A final meeting will be held to discuss all of the collected responses and to develop a sort-of action plan. "We're dealing with post-9/11 and what is happening to our communities since. … We've broken the circle of trust," said Sandra Cheldelin, a professor with ICAR. "The dialogues are one way to mend the circles of trust."
The next dialogue is scheduled for April 3, with the location to be determined.
The meeting began with the participants paired in groups of two or three to discuss the first question regarding "us". Afterwards, some of the groups shared their responses which ranged from "us" being vulnerable people; the world; the reader; and those attacked.
The groups then joined another group, creating a circle of four to five people to answer the second question concerning "they". Once again, answers ran the gamut from "they" being people with their own agenda; the American people; and people who feel terrorized by the American government's militarism. One person theorized, "Americans have a long history of being arrogant and when they see something right, they take it … so in a strange way, 'they' are 'us'."
Once more groups combined to answer the final question and then shared their suggestions on how to make a difference. Most focused on exposing the younger generations to many cultures to help foster understanding; to having immigrants be more willing to integrate more into the American culture; and to simply get out and talk to people of other cultures, races and religions.
WHILE MANY pointed out in their dialogues that meetings such as these typically attract those who are already open minded and not necessarily the people who truly need to be exposed to other cultures, Moghitha Alkibsi said even the open minded has room to change.
"I'm hoping the word will spread and more people will go back to their communities and try to do something positive," said the Fairfax resident. "I really believe in the basic good of humanity and believe when there is positive energy around, you can change people.
"Maybe there are a number of people who are here just to see what this group can possibly do. Maybe some came in with a negative attitude and through the positive interaction are now more positive about themselves and their community."
David Perera, a counselor with the Community Resilience Project, said the whole idea of the dialogues is to get people talking and to come up with ways to overcome the divisions that were created by the terrorist attacks within the community.
"Hopefully everyone will benefit from being more aware," Perera said. "The dialogues are an informal, formal setting to allow people to speak and listen to what others are saying and to allow people to make up their own minds."
For information about future dialogues or other services provided by the Community Resilience Project, visit the Web site at www.communityresilience.com or call 703-533-5388.