Maufur
‘Interfood dialogue’ in the title above might give you the impression that I am playing word games because of its similarity in both letter and sound to ‘interfaith dialogue’. You are not one hundred per cent right or wrong. The use of this term is indeed related to the second term, which is popular among interfaith dialogue activists. However, rather than being a pun or a joke, I am very serious about the idea of making food an important part of a dialogue or conflict resolution model, especially in the Indonesian context. If we are familiar with the term ‘dinner table diplomacy’ in the context of politics or interstate relations, why don't we also use this model in interfaith dialogue or peace efforts.
This article was inspired by my personal experience when participating in several peace activities abroad. In 2013, I happened to have the opportunity to join a Summer Programme on Religion and Conflict Resolution held by Center for Religion, Culture, and Conflict (CRCC) in New Jersey, USA. In 2016, I was again invited as a facilitator at this month-long event. The participants were from different religious backgrounds and came from a number of countries experiencing ethnic and religious conflict: Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Nigeria and Indonesia. During the forum, the debate between the Israeli and Palestinian participants was very heated, and it was not uncommon for tables to be broken or participants to break down walk-out.This dynamic is understandable, due to the long conflict between the two countries. Continue reading “Interfood Dialogue: Upaya Damai Melalui Meja Makan”
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