Readers write: Solutions for conflict, and defending freedom
Solutions for conflict
Ryan Lenora Brown鈥檚 report on and extended interview with anthropologist Julienne Anoko 鈥� 鈥�Amid distrust of Ebola responders, she leads by quiet example鈥� in the Jan. 13 Monitor Weekly 鈥� is no less than a revelation.聽Respecting and listening to the people involved in a crisis are not responsibilities to simply add on to responders鈥� duties.
Instead, in this article, they are shown to be the substance of an effective treatment for a crisis (in this case, the Ebola epidemic in eastern Congo). That鈥檚 because, without mutual trust, experts from abroad are disbelieved, rejected, and even attacked 鈥� and their efforts to help undermined.聽So it鈥檚 heartening to read how Dr. Anoko鈥檚 insight into and practical grasp of a current situation can lead to resolution, one village at a time. In the article, she says 鈥渨e need to feel what they are feeling.鈥� Isn鈥檛 that the way out of any conflict?聽
This article is the epitome of Monitor goals, as articulated in the recent recording of the 2020 Monitor Night Live聽question-and-answer session with editors and journalists. Thank you all!
Oliver Hirsh
Klippinge, Denmark
Defending freedom
Thank you for the excellent cover story 鈥�Estonia鈥檚 cyber warriors鈥� in the Feb. 10 Monitor Weekly. It seems that Estonians are experienced in defending their freedom.
A powerful 2006 film, 鈥淭he Singing Revolution,鈥� documents the time between 1987 and 1991, when tens of thousands of Estonians gathered to sing forbidden patriotic songs. It was their chosen method to free themselves from Russian occupation, and 鈥淭he Singing Revolution鈥� is a hugely inspirational film.聽
As always, the Monitor shines the light on the best in human endeavors.
Lynn Roy
Boston
