Public dialogue, done well, is a work of art, a thing of beauty no less impressive than a fine painting, sculpture or tapestry. A well-crafted dialogue is at its best when the audience becomes participants; the lectern fades and interaction…
A Long Farewell
A moment took me by surprise this afternoon, although I should have expected it. I am no longer the Director of SFU’s Semester in Dialogue. After 12 years, it was time to pass the torch. I’ve known this was coming…
Jonathan Swift, Socrates, Bees and Dialogue
I’ve never been overly impressed with the Socratic method as dialogue, although it was described as such in the 399 BCE book Dialogues, in which Plato recorded conversations between Socrates and his disciples. These are sharp exchanges with pointed and…
Reconciling Injustices in a Pluralistic Canada
The Centre for Dialogue organized an event last week, “Reconciling Injustices in a Pluralistic Canada,” that focused on how we’re all affected by the legacy of injustice, even generations later. For more, see an op-ed piece in today’s (28 January)…
What’s in a Name?
Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue recognized Chief Robert Joseph of Vancouver Island’s Gwawaenuk First Nation this week with our most prestigious award, the Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue (http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/programs/blaney-award.html) It’s presented every other year to an individual who…
“Dialogue in Bee Time”
I’m very excited about a new book coming out in the fall of 2014, tentatively titled “Dialogue in Bee Time: Lessons Learned from the Bees” (a title which is quite likely to change before publication). It’s being published by Harvard…