on a different 'note' -
I was very impressed a few years ago with a program about a concert given by Daniel Barenboim, conducting an orchestra of Israeli and Palestinian musicians (Beethoven's 7th symphony). The performance quality was outstanding (unity & coherence), and the political point he made was clear - that any conflict or misery can be transcended, even resolved, if we can come up with something sufficiently great or noble. (probably also a motivation of space advocates like Zubrin ..) - not a practical solution maybe, but an important demonstration.