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Reflections on Engagement in Discourses at the International Level: A Talk by Bani Dugal
October 20, 2016, in Videos > Talk, by Sonjel VreelandIn her talk given at the 2016 ABS (Association for Baha’i Studies) Conference held in Montreal, Canada, Bani Dugal explored the Baha’i community’s participation in the discourses of society, the area of activity most closely connected with the establishment of the Lesser Peace.
Although she is the primary representative of the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations, Bani Dugal spoke from her own perspective and her thoughts were shared in an unofficial capacity. She explored her work at the UN, not only in terms of contributing to the content of discourses, but of helping to shape the way in which discourse occurs and by paying particular attention to the language and tone used.
You watch other talks given at the conference on ABS’ Vimeo channel.
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Sonjel Vreeland
In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.
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It’s an important topic of discussion, of course — how to engage in meaningful and uplifting conversations. Different forms of communication naturally benefit from different approaches. The written word offers one flavor. Public speaking another. Dialogue, itself, yet more.
Suffice to say, giving an hour-long speech is challenging. For anyone who finds him/herself in such discourse, please know that it is most inspiring when we speak from the heart; more so than if we speak from the page. Having notes can be helpful, especially to recite accurately and fully from the Baha’i Writings.
Because many people are pressed for time, this talk might be presented here as an 8-minute clip. From 1:03:50 through 1:11:50 in the video, we get to the heart of the presentation, as the speaker alludes to the reality of our Baha’i communities and the conversations unfolding therein.
Baha’i Blog provides an inspirational, curatorial function in producing and gathering together materials from around the world. It may be helpful to serve up such distilled & edited content, as suggested above. If the reader/viewer is interested — and has the time for a fuller consideration or investigation — links are always provided to delve into the source material.
Also, lastly, one more suggestion. In the spirit of this talk, it would be greatly welcome to see more articles, videos, and exemplary activities showcasing Baha’i social engagement. We can learn from our shared, collective, and specific experiences; replicating and refining the best of our efforts to cultivate a spiritual life, noble character, and flourishing society.
Greg (October 10, 2016 at 6:16 AM)
Thank you for taking the time to comment and for making suggestions for the betterment of Baha’i Blog — we truly appreciate it! We will take all of your ideas into thoughtful consideration.
Sonjel Vreeland (October 10, 2016 at 9:59 PM)