Finding Common Ground

Finding Common Ground
In The Midst of A Heated Conversation
Sias University
Henan Provence, China
Spring 2012

Tai Chi video

One evening, after class, I went to the campus square with my students for a cup of tea.  We started to discuss the Dali Llama.  My students hated him.  They saw him as a man of war who is trying to destroy the unity of China. They hoped he dies soon.  I suggested that he is a man of peace and the recipient of the Noble Peace Prize. They laughed at me and told me this move was nothing more than western propaganda used to humiliate China.  I was outnumbered and they remained respectful but insistent that I was wrong. 

 Just then, two of my Western acquaintances arrived and they joined in the discussion  Both women were in the area to study Tai Chi with a world master. They, too, were shocked at what they heard and the conversation now was taking on a more adversarial tone.  After awhile, I had to stop the conversation because it was becoming hateful. 

I suggested that one of the Tai Chi women show us what she learned today.  Coincidently, Susanna, my student, was also learning this same Tai Chi movement.  So the two women put down their anger and gave us a demonstration.  When they finished, we were able to go back to more civil conversation.