REVOLUTION

What if you were part of a revolution and didn't even know it? Not an innocent bystander but as a soldier for the revolutionary forces engaged in a battle to “separate that, which is contingent on “modern life” from what is essential to human society and to Life itself.” Could an army of the ignorant and humble undermine the excesses of power and privilege? Could civilization, as we know it be defeated by the force of humanity?

The following is from an article The Collapse of Civilization and The Rebirth of Community: by Steven Lagavulin

"Somewhere in the last decades of the 20th Century something unusual began to occur. At the height of human “progress”, in the full flower of technology, and at the pinnacle of economic and material success, a small trickle of people began to “drop out”. They were not giving-up on the world—on the contrary they were making immense efforts to seek out new, more authentic connections with it. A revolution had begun, without a doubt, but one devoid of leaders or fanfare or conditions; a simple, silent revolt led by thousands of people in dozens of countries, hardly any of them knowing that their other fellow revolutionaries even existed."

A. J. Muste "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way"

CEASE-FIRE

Why do we accept a cease-fire rather than demand a peace?

For both sides of the conflict to be disarmed they would have to put their faith in the global forces of humanity to insure their security.

Unfortunately we are not up to the task.

As long as those with a conflict of interest empower the Courts of Justice the struggle will continue. The Bible states, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged" (7:2). If we defer the crimes of humanity to God then the human race will remain subservient to those who act in the name of God, Allah or Yhwh. A judiciary reinforced by stereotypes that suggest that they themselves are beyond judgement. Only when their position has been confirmed and their interests served do they proclaim that justice has been served. These are not judgements that advance civilization but are opinions, framed by fears, pride and ignorance for the purpose of subjugating humanity to their will.

Those who serve humanity should judge those that commit crimes against humanity. If the humble cannot rise to the occasion then we had better leave judging to God alone.

Regards

Fool e

BALANCE

In the interest of maintaining a balanced view this quote bears repeating.

"If Hizbollah lays down its arms there will be no more war. If the Israelis lay down their arms there will be no more Israel".

As an advocate for compromise, resolution, peace, brotherly-love, flowers, the bees and well you get it...it's important to keep a balance "a fine balance". A compromise between what is right and what is left.

"A fine balance" by Mohinton Mistry is in my opinion an excellent book for exploring this issue.

What sense did the world make? Where was God, the Bloody Fool? Did He have no notion of fair and unfair? Couldn't He read a simple balance sheet? He would have been sacked long ago if He were managing a corporation, the things Hew allowed to happen.... -A Fine Balance

Does A Fine Balance show people's vulnerability, or their fortitude?

I have come to realize that when we shed our biases and look for truth that it is significant that one understands;

"If the world didn't suck we would all fall off".

Regards,
Fool e

'WORLD OPINION' IS WORTHLESS

Dennis Prager posted on August 01, 2006 that “if you are ever morally confused about a major world issue, here is a rule that is almost never violated: Whenever you hear that "world opinion" holds a view, assume it is morally wrong.”

As an example, are you confused about the role of America and Israel in the current conflict with Lebanon? Do you wonder why “world opinion” is different than Dennis Prager’s?

According to Dennis it’s because;

“World opinion doesn't confront real evils, but it has a particular animus toward those who do.”

“World opinion has little or nothing to say about the world's greatest evils and regularly condemns those who fight evil.”

“World opinion is shaped by the same lack of courage that shapes most individual human beings behavior.”

If you need any further clarification I suggest reading his article at RealClearPolitics . Either you agree with his position or reveal yourself as a coward whose opinion is worthless. End of discussion!

"You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people
some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time."
Abraham Lincoln

Regards
Fool e

A DIFFICULT LESSON INDEED

The popularity of the following posting prompted a response.

AbbaGav "Treppenwitz has an absolute must read, which I don't want to quote for fear you won't read the whole thing."

Big Lizards "Hugh Hewitt read this post by David Bogner on the air Thursday, and I thought it was one of the best parables I've heard in years. I urgently urge y'all to read the whole thing; it's not that long, but..."

David Bogner at Treppenwitz uses a parable as an analogy that is used to justify that "This is one time an Arab aggressor must be allowed to be beaten so badly that every civilized nation will stand in horror....." My response follows the story. I suggest reading his full post at the permalink provided.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

A difficult lesson

When I was in the Navy, I once witnessed a bar fight in downtown Olongapo (Philippines) that still haunts my dreams. The fight was between a big oafish Marine and a rather soft-spoken, medium sized Latino sailor from my ship.

All evening the Marine had been trying to pick a fight with one of us and had finally set his sights on this diminutive shipmate of mine... figuring him for a safe target. When my friend refused to be goaded into a fight the Marine sucker punched him from behind on the side of the head so hard that blood instantly started to pour from this poor man's mutilated ear.

Everyone present was horrified and was prepared to absolutely murder this Marine, but my shipmate quickly turned on him and began to single-handedly back him towards a corner with a series of stinging jabs and upper cuts that gave more than a hint to a youth spent boxing in a small gym in the Bronx.

Each punch opened a cut on the Marine's startled face and by the time he had been backed completely into the corner he was blubbering for someone to stop the fight. He invoked his split lips and chipped teeth as reasons to stop the fight. He begged us to stop the fight because he could barely see through the river of blood that was pouring out of his split and swollen brows.

Nobody moved. Not one person.

The only sound in the bar was the sickening staccato sound of this sailor's lightning fast fists making contact with new areas of the Marine's head. The only sound I have heard since that was remotely similar was from the first Rocky film when Sylvester Stallone was punching sides of beef in the meat locker.

Finally the Marine's pleading turned to screams.... a high, almost womanly shriek. And still the punches continued relentlessly.

Several people in the bar took a few tentative steps as though they wanted to try to break it up at that point, but hands reached out from the crowd and held them tight. I'm not ashamed to say that mine were two of the hands that held someone back.

You see, in between each blow the sailor had begun chanting a soft cadence: "Say [punch] you [punch] give [punch] up [punch]... say [punch] you [punch]were [punch] wrong [punch]".

He had been repeating it to the Marine almost from the start but we only became aware of it when the typical barroom cheers had died down and we began to be sickened by the sight and sound of the carnage.

This Marine stood there shrieking in the corner of the bar trying futilely to block the carefully timed punches that were cutting his head to tatters... right down to the skull in places. But he refused to say that he gave up... or that he was wrong.

Even in the delirium of his beating he believed in his heart that someone would stop the fight before he had to admit defeat. I'm sure this strategy had served him well in the past and had allowed him to continue on his career as a barroom bully.

Finally, in a wail of agony the Marine shrieked "I give up", and we gently backed the sailor away from him.

I'm sure you can guess why I have shared this story today.

Please , click the permalink for the rest of this post

Posted by David Bogner on July 16, 2006 | Permalink

“He who aspires to paradise should learn
to deal with people with kindness.”
Abu Bakr

“Spare the rod spoil the child.”

I recall the son that cowered in the presence of his domineering Father. The futility of his situation drove an inner rage that he could not express without fear of reprisal. He acted out these frustrations through disobedient acts of a
rebellious nature. Lying, stealing and the malicious damage of other's property became his forte. He was a delinquent whose emotional quotient was primarily driven by schadenfreude towards his father and humanity in general. Some called him a bully.

How poignant it is that we live in a society where delinquents flourish. How distressing that they conduct violent acts with impunity against innocents. How terrifying that rather than subduing these forces, we respond with rage and want to murder them. How should we act to change a society that lacks compassion and/or empathy for others?

"The world is a dangerous place to live

not because of the people who are evil,

but because of the people who don't do

anything about it."

Albert Einstein

Some attribute the quotation "spare the rod and spoil the child" to the Bible; in fact, it comes from a poem by Samuel Butler. The Bible verse itself reads, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24 (NIV)" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanking

The ironic thing is that this poem is supposedly, "a burlesque satire on Puritanism." Wikipedia says "The closest analogy in the present day to the meaning of "Puritan" in the 17th century would be 'fundamentalist'" http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Puritan

"Is it possible that our children are learning violence across their mommy's and daddy's knees in the name of love, and done in the best interests of the child, with approving nods from the religious and educational establishments-even the courts- while all of us abhor rioting, terrorism, street crime, capital punishment and any form of torture, brutality, and human inhumanity?"

“Butler's burlesque poem portrayed the Puritans as obnoxious nuisances whose hypocrisy and stupidity needed to be exposed. Inadvertently, however, Butler popularized for us, three hundred years later, an aphorism taken literally today by more orthodox descendents of his antipathy.”

A lot more interesting material on the subject at:

Theology Today - Vol 37, No. 4 - January 1981 - ARTICLE - Spanking Hurts Everybody

The school of hard knocks: Learning through difficult experiences. An early training in the school of hard knocks was good preparation for a career in politics.
Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms

Damnation University - School of Hard Knocks

Regards
Fool e