The power of trust

I heard on the radio today that the first food shipment to North Korea finally took place, organized by the UN and the Global Food Program. For long time GFP was trying to bring support to the very poor population, but access was not granted. Today I heard the shipment was authorized. Four days ago, the Bush Administration took NK out of the list of terrorist sponsoring countries, after Pyongyang submitted a 60-page report on its nuclear program. A few months ago, the first visit of the NY Symphonic Orchestra broke the ice. Journalists were allowed to accompany the musicians, get interviews, visit the nuclear facilities. As I was listening to this news, I asked myself how much we create our enemies. I mean, people do things we don't like, and we catapult them into a category, "evil", "mean", etc and we act accordingly. Which does no less than reinforce the separation among us and the others. I was asking myself what if we would address those situations with trust instead, with the intent to understand, with curiosity and spirity of inquiry. What if we would treat threatening individuals as people with reasons, with fears, with human needs , I mean, treat them as humans, instead of outside of humankind? I am playing with the thought that there are no mean people - there are sick people, psychologically traumatised, emotionally empoverished. How would we go around if we held that assumption, instead of holding the assumption that there are others out there who want to harm us? It doesn't change the fact that some people punch knives into other people, or point and use guns, murder, steal, lie. But it changes how we label them. I remember a few years ago a woman who was "kidnapped" in her home by a criminal who was escaping from the police. After several hours of talking, of her addressing him in a caring way, another part of him came out: he became "human", emotionally touched, and surrendered. He talked about this event as a transformational experience and called her "angel". What did she do? She just changed how she looked at him. Interesting, what impact that can have. This gives me a lot to think...