Listening and Falling Silent. Jessica Feldman
It was interesting to read about the nature of protests in Paris. It feels like a tradition, a celebration for people to connect, as they are stuck in traffic. During ongoing protests against Isreal in Gaza in Vancouver BC, the atmosphere was not as celebratory, rather people in cars were annoyed, and people marching were determined. Conversation between the two did not seem to be much part of it. I think solidarity is the focus in the article, which requires an openness. I wondered if protests in Paris have been changed by the isolation of Covid. Listening is an act of intimacy and vulnerability. I would suggest that political and military forces have become more global not only due to money, but because it is easier. Listening takes time, and empathy, for another.
The Force of Listening. Lucia Farinati & Claudia Firth
Links between the "talking cure" for patients, (often women) in the early stages of psychoanalysis, and what feminists were doing in the sixties and seventies are interesting. Consciousness raising was a powerful tool to bring people together. This route brought emphasis to listening, as much as talking, and empowered the women(and others) to be their own therapist- listen to yourself without judgement.
