How The D's And R's Faded In 9/11 Commissioners' Task
by Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1015/p10s01-coop.html
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The authors suggest that the "trivial" process of getting to know one another as people played an important role in the Commission's success. Does this conclusion surprise you? If so, why? If not, what experiences have you had or do you know about that would lead you to expect the authors’ finding?
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Can you think of a time when you were surprised by the barrier-reducing effect of “getting to know each other as people”? What was the situation? The barrier? The surprise?
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Have you ever worked closely with someone you knew had a very different “partisan affiliation”? What did you know about the person as an individual? Did this personal knowledge affect your ability to work well together despite your political differences? If so, how?
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Have you ever been in a situation where a shared understanding of necessity allowed you to work with people with whom you strongly disagreed on other important matters? What did your shared sense of necessity allow you to do?
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What stops you from taking steps to get to know people who voted for another presidential candidate? If you were to reach out to someone who voted differently than you did, what are you either afraid or hopeful that you might learn? How might you and they benefit from your outreach?
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The authors write about the importance of an appreciative attitude. What would you like others to appreciate about your political commitments? What might you appreciate about the commitments of someone with whom you strongly disagree about the outcome of the 2004 election?
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The authors suggest that plenty of time is needed when talking about contentious issues. Are there strained relationships and contentious conversations in your present life that might benefit from more time to talk? How could you make time for more spacious exchanges?
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What did your find most courageous about the way the authors handled their responsibilities?
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In the authors’ view, members of the 9/11 Commission were motivated to work together effectively by their shared sense of the “gravity” of the situation and their shared wish not to let down the victums of 9/11 or the nation. What interest may people across the political spectrum have in working together to address one of the pressing issues of our time? How could someone-you, perhaps-find this out?
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The Commission departed from the usual way of doing business in a number of ways. What do these departures suggest about how other groups or institutions might deal with grave and divisive matters more effectively?
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What does the example of the 9/11 Commission suggest about ways that you (or others in your circle of influence) could help detoxify the “poisonous partisan atmosphere” of our times?
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What questions does this article raise for you? If Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton were here, what question would you ask them to deepen your understanding of their views and the work of the 9/11 Commission?
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