Narratives are especially effective in speeches because they draw listeners into the action. Because listeners can often “see” themselves enacting certain roles within the stories, narratives can encourage those transformations of identity and behavior that ethical public speaking makes possible. Moreover, narratives stimulate the process of constructive listening. Because stories prompt listeners to create meaning from what they hear, the audience becomes involved in the creation of the message. It becomes their discovery, their truth. Such involvement enhances the impact of the message. Personal narratives also increase identification between speakers and audiences. They can help bridge the cultural differences that separate people of diverse backgrounds. According to Vice President Gore, storytelling can even help old enemies make peace. On one occasion, when Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian, and Syrian leaders met to discuss a peace treaty, Gore saw the negotiations coming to a standstill. The situation looked unpromising until, in Gore's words, “The breakthrough came when they told stories about their families. I have seen time and time again how storytelling brings people together.”