I would like to briefly discuss some of the tools Buddhism has to offer in the search for answers to these questions. The first thing we must realise is that crisis, tension, misunderstanding, discomfort, and conflict are part of life, and that it is a mistake to try and avoid them. Life can be less painful if we learn to anticipate potential conflict and manage it constructively. Conflict can be both positive and negative, constructive or destructive, depending on what we make of it. Buddhists call this anicca.
Nothing is permanent.
Everything is changing. Yet, in many conflicts we are so attached to our views that we tend to blame the other side without critically examining our own position. The more angry and self-righteous we become, the more sure we are that our view is the only correct one, the more dualistic our view, less the possibility for true understanding, an understanding which involves other points of view as well as our own. Conflict can open avenues for change and provide challenges. Conflict resolution skills do not guarantee a solution every time, but they can turn conflict into an open opportunity for learning more about oneself and others.