Comments on: Feeding the Enemy: When Hatred and Racism Come Home

By: rcolan1965

rcolan1965 — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 19:52:11 +0000

In reply to Sandra Green. I agree. What I inherited from my grandmother's story is the hope. We can do more than recognize and accept trauma. We have the ability to heal and repair it.

By: Sandra Green

Sandra Green — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 01:15:36 +0000

I found myself imagining the young German soldier recounting your Nonna’s kindness to his own heirs, friends and family. There is a Shaker saying, “Kind Words Never Die”. A beautiful example of the intergenerational transmission of the opposite of trauma; common humanity and recognition of the other as self. Thanks Roberto.

By: Roberto Colangeli

Roberto Colangeli — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:34:46 +0000

Thank you all for your comments.
I think is very hard to find space for empathy when confronted with fear, hate, anger. It is too easy to dehumanized and much harder to find a way to connect with the “other”. My grandmother used her experience as a mother to relate to the soldier and his mother back in Germany, but I believe there are many other ways.

By: Tricia Brock

Tricia Brock — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:03:34 +0000

Thank you for this beautiful story, Roberto. The shift in perspective allowing your grandmother to open her heart to an enemy despite her fears, and your ability to share your understanding of how the meaning of that family story has changed, and how you relate it to the uncertainty of our environment now with hope is all very moving and brave.

By: member

member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 18:10:18 +0000

Dear Roberto, Thank you for sharing your touching story!

By: Constance Morrill

Constance Morrill — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 02:15:09 +0000

This was a beautifully written and moving piece. Thank you, Roberto.

By: Amanda Aivaz

Amanda Aivaz — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 18:48:49 +0000

What a wonderful and touching blog! Thank you for sharing your story, Roberto! Congrats!