Becoming the Alien in the Room

Greetings!

In my country, discussions about political issues, politicians, and political parties have been quite tense for the past decade. Just before a recent election, I was with some neighbors who hold roughly similar positions to me. Hearing them talk about the other major party sounded very strange to me, like they were talking about an alien species. “Do you know any members of the other party,” I asked. They looked at me in surprise: “Of course not!”

That’s a serious risk. Most of all it is a serious error. I have friends and relatives who vote quite differently than me. I may not understand why they vote the way they do, but they are people I love, and I respect their decisions. When we can, we try to calmly understand each other’s views. Given a finely balanced electorate, listening is how we learn and find how best to work together.

I have thought about these deep divisions in the preparations for the UN Water Conference coming up in less than a week. Perhaps the most frequent complaint I have heard from water colleagues of all ages is the degree of fragmentation in the water community, closely followed by frustration that colleagues in other fields do not appreciate how important water is.

Guess what: water people struggle talking outside of their narrow slice of the water community, much less going outside of the water zone. I know, because it terrifies me and I have to force myself to do it. When I realize I am the alien species in the room, I know I must be doing something right.

In one week, over 6000 people will head to New York for the first United Nations water conference in almost fifty years. I am excited to be going as part of a strong delegation and to be seeing many friends and colleagues. I feel fortunate to be attending such an important event. But this event will not be successful with water people talking to water people — or with expecting that non-water people will be listening to “our” messages. My most useful role is in the audience listening to my colleagues, so that I can understand. Listening leads to learning.

John Matthews
Corvallis, Oregon, USA