Essay: Resolving Conflict

“Today, our workplaces and neighborhoods are composed of people of diverse backgrounds.  For this reason it is important for people to find ways to get along with each other.“

“Write an essay explaining how people of diverse backgrounds can get together better.”

While I do not have much of a problem in this area, if I have one at all, I realize that a lot of people do, so I shall offer some hints and advice for the normal person in this area. Since I cannot relate to this topic myself, I consulted with several friends, per suggestion of my mother, and we came up with a few ideas on how to solve those issues.

Focus on the present.  Don’t worry about past differences.  Don’t hold a grudge against someone simply because your two counties decimated each other in a bloody war in the past, whether it was 1000 years ago, or whether it was merely 10.  They (most likely) had nothing to do with it, and you do not need to treat them like they did, even if they are a direct descendant of one of the genocidal monsters in history, such as Hitler, or Herod.

Focus on your similarities.  Focus on what you have in common.  Get to know the other person, what their interests are, what type of music they like, etc. It would be an almost impossible statistical anomaly if the two of you did not have something in common. Even if you do not share any interests, you can debate about why you have a difference of opinion on one of them, such as why you like a particular artist, or why you agree with a particular politician.  While such discussions can always lead to conflict, if you handle it right, you might end up changing their opinion on something, and making them grateful, or vice versa.

Talk about things that both people can relate to, such as classes taken together, or events experienced together.  Discuss events that are common to everyone.  The weather, the current state of political affairs, the Olympics, global warming, etc.  Unless they live in a sound-proof box, eating army rations, and sleeping all day, you are bound to find a commonly shared event that you both can relate to.

There is no excuse for not getting along with someone, for no matter how different you are, there is always something you can both relate to, and that is all you need to start a conversation with each other, during which you may learn of other interests you share, which you can also discuss, which can eventually lead to a lasting friendship.  But, in the end, the fact that you share any interests or not should not keep you from getting along, as we are all commanded by God to “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.(Romans 12:18 )” If you cannot relate to one another on anything in your past, then get out and make some events that you can both relate to.  Hang out with each other, do things together, go places together.  Then you’ll have something to talk about.

Partial credit for this essay given to the following people:
Mom
Olivia
Josh
David
Thanks a lot, Guys!