Larry C. Rosen: Promoting Peace and Cooperation

The Enemies Project Documentary Series

What's This All About?

In each episode, the Enemies Project documentary pairs two individuals with passionately opposed beliefs (e.g. pro-choice and pro-life) for day-long exchange. The Enemies Project is neither gotcha TV nor political debate. The purpose is for "enemies" to see the humanity in the other — because goodwill is the foundation of a functional society.

Renowned peacemaker Larry C. Rosen will host the exchanges. Emmy Award winner Jon Halperin will produce the series. Filming is to begin in August 2024. Episodes will air within a month of shooting.

Early Pairings

pro-choice and pro-life
BLM and MAGA
religious nationalist and progressive
gun-control advocate and 2nd Amendment supporter
documented immigrant and border-issue conservative
trans activist and gender fundamentalist
Israeli and Gazan (and/or their advocates)
family/friends fallen out around politics
pro- and anti-Critical Race Theory
pro- and anti-vax
pro- and anti-climate action
pro- anti- Supreme Court reform

Peacemaker Larry C. Rosen

Larry’s experience with peacemaking is multifaceted and long. As the founder of the mediation law practice Through Understanding, he has helped thousands craft enduring solutions to crippling conflicts. His popular TEDx, The Secret to Understanding Humans, has been viewed 1.4+ million times. In January 2024, Larry completed writing the novel The Enemy Dance (posing the question of whether a society riven by tribalism must descend into war or can heal itself). Larry holds a JD from UCLA School of Law where he was Editor of the Law Review. His professional efforts aim to dial down the belief that "you are a threat to me" — so "enemies" may solve pressing problems together.

Common Questions From Prospective PartIcipants

"I feel like I already understand the other side — better than they understand themselves. Why would I participate?"

The main reason to participate is to be heard — by someone who does not truly understand how deeply this issue matters to you and why. While you will need to do some listening as well, your goal will be to speak your mind. Further, as your session may be viewed by millions, your participation is an opportunity for you, as a representative of the unheard voices on your side, to be seen by the public at large as you truly are.

“Is this a hit piece? Will I be made to look like a bad person?"

While both participants will show up with their strong judgments of the other, if in the end either walks away believing he/she was ridiculed, the project has failed. The goal is to facilitate a discussion where both ultimately believe they have been fully understood by one commonly considered an "enemy". While we cannot guarantee this outcome, in thousands of peacemaking sessions conducted by Larry, nearly all participants have concluded the other side fully understood them.

"I don’t know Larry personally and wonder why I should trust him."

For participants who have not met Larry (and have not been referred by past participants), participation may seem like a leap of faith. It is. However, as Larry interviews prospective participants, each will likewise interview him, ask questions, and evaluate the project. Further, prospective participants can watch Larry’s TEDx, visit his website, read his writings, and seek out reviews of him as a peacemaker.

"I don’t love the term 'enemy'. I am passionate but don’t hate the other side. Should I participate?"

The term "enemy" is intentionally provocative and need not be how you view the other side. You certainly don’t need to regard them as evil. However, participants should be passionate about their cause and believe their side is morally correct. They see the other as somewhere between naïve/hoodwinked and selfish/corrupt.

"I am not an expert. Should I participate?"

You do not need to be an expert to feel passionately about an issue. You do not need to be the master of facts or statistics. Indeed, such mastery would not convince one opposed of anything. That the issue is deeply important to you is all that is needed.

"My conflict is with a family member/friend. Can Larry facilitate between us?"

Yes. This is a common societal dynamic. Where there has been a personal falling out because of politics, sessions provide both deep healing and profound insight into what drives the societal divide.

“Two people make no difference. Really, what's the point?"

Powerful forces in society have benefitted economically and politically by manufacturing and exacerbating deep divisions among ordinary people. When our viewing audience witnesses "enemies" connecting as human beings, their own enemy trances can be broken. In this way, you are helping combat self-interested forces that leach goodwill from our society. In this way, you are not simply two people. You are millions.

"Where and when filmed?"

Enemies Project sessions will begin filming in August 2024 and continue throughout the remainder of 2024. Individual sessions will last between 2 hours and 5 hours and be recorded in studio in the Bay Area, California.

"When will my session air?"

Each session will appear on YouTube within a month of being filmed. The series may also appear on one of the major streaming networks.

Reach Us

*Prospective Participant Personal Paragraph

If you are interested in participating, please offer a short paragraph about yourself, including which political issue(s) you feel passionately about and why they matter to you. We will set up a Zoom between you and Larry, during which you'll have an opportunity to ask questions of each other and see if there is a match.

** Info gathered will NOT be shared with outside parties.

The Enemies Project

The Enemies Project

A People Divided Are A People Fallen

The Enemies Project Documentary Series

What's This All About?

Early Pairings

Peacemaker Larry C. Rosen

Common Questions From Prospective PartIcipants

How Different Are We?

Reach Us

Subscribe to Updates -- including episode list and times

*Prospective Participant Personal Paragraph

The Enemies Project

A People Divided Are A People Fallen

The Enemies Project Documentary Series

What's This All About?

Early Pairings

Peacemaker Larry C. Rosen

Common Questions From Prospective PartIcipants

How Different Are We?

Reach Us

Subscribe to Updates -- including episode list and times

*Prospective Participant Personal Paragraph

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