Rules of Engagement
[excerpted from wikipedia, franklin's original rules] - suggest to revise these into present day verbiage
my interpretation (venessa):
1. Mutual Respect: the ability to acknowledge and empathize with the viewpoint of another.
Remain mindful throughout the exchange that a goal of the dialogue is to "see" the viewpoint of the other - not to accept it or agree with it, but simply to attempt to understand the value system of the other person, their "mental model", that would indicate WHY they think what they think
2. Shared Universal Principles: the attempt to find common ground in "the big picture"
Beneath our individual or cultural differences, which are necessary expressions of the diversity of humans, is a common ground. In this realm, there is an appreciation for the greater good we all seek - the desire to thrive, the ability to cooperate while still retaining individuality, and to collaborate on problems that simply cannot be solved alone.
3. The Spirit of Inquiry: the quest for understanding
One of the main objectives of dialogue is the inquiry itself. It assumes that we can never "know" everything, we can only interpret truth through the sharing of individual perspectives and then internalize the meaning for ourselves, individually. By attempting to create a shared understanding, we enrich our own mental models, providing us a greater range of perspectives to use in order to continuously challenge assumptions, push forward, and adapt to change.