Part of the problem we face as we engage in any heated geopolitical discussion is that we often forget that, in all of these discussions, we are in fact dealing with the fates of individuals, not faceless governments. Iranians and Israelis are all people – just like you and I. They laugh, they cry, they seek love, and above all else want they want to be inspired just as we all do.

That being said, it is incumbent upon the respective governing bodies involved, as well as the people constituting the respective nations involved, to recognize that as individuals we share a common dream – peace. More difficult perhaps, is that all parties involved must struggle to truly understand that fundamentally we all desire to achieve a common vision. Accordingly, we are charged with the task of achieving that vision, while working to preserve our respective cultures to the best of our abilities.

It is clearly a difficult task, but it is not insurmountable. Frankly, it cannot be if we are to continue to develop as a people. I am hopeful that a new generation of globally-oriented and culturally diverse individuals will recognize our intrinsic similarities and champion a new era of understanding between nations that is driven from the bottom up. I am also hopeful that the efforts of folks in the Web 2.0 community will play a role in this change, as global technology convergence we are working to enable will ultimately help fuel a broader event - social convergence.

Hooman Radfar
Chief Executive Officer
Clearspring Technologies