Force on Force

For generations now the Middle East has been a hot zone for violence. The United States too, has been involved in many conflicts for the past several generations. One thing we can learn about conflict, is that the use of force always leads to more force.

Every example we can see in history, either directly on indirectly led to further conflict. World War 1 created the power vacuum that caused World War 2. World War 2 led to the Cold War, and so on.

The Middle East has used the force on force tactics for generations. In fact most civilizations have used force on force. India is one example of a powerful revolution that used the power of compassion to gain their independence. It however, took the extraordinary efforts of Gandhi, to teach the people how to use compassion as a powerful agent of change.

Unfortunately despite Gandhi’s efforts, violence sprung up in the formation of Pakistan and in part Gandhi was assassinated for his efforts in trying to stop the violence. His methods nonetheless were effective and were employed by the Civil Rights movement in the 60s.

If we are to survive as a race on this planet, we must learn to extend compassion and remember that our enemies are also a part of the same human family that we too are a part of. People can kill, steal, and cheat one another when people are dehumanized.

Gandhi was unique because even though the British Empire thought of the people of India as inferior, Gandhi remembered that they too were humans that had forgotten themselves. His movement was effective in creating a lasting friendship between two countries that may well have turned into bitter enemies.

The horror that is going on, on the Gaza Strip right now is not the fault of one group or the other. It is the fault of both parties for neglecting to extend compassion. If either group extended true compassion and recognized the other as a human being with a legitimate cause for complaint, then things could begin to move forward. Peace talks don’t work when neither side is willing to listen.

Yes one group is typically more hostile then the other in any military situation. That however did not stop Gandhi from taking the hostile tactics of the British and showing them the horror of violence. Gandhi took that violence and used it to help the British remember that the people of India were also human.

I am not by any means saying there is an easy answer to any of the violence going on in the Middle East. But our presence over there has definitely stirred things up. It is estimated that there are now more terrorists (even if they may be less organized as the government claims) then before the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reason is because people’s lives are being destroyed by violence, and as a result they too become angry and violent.

I am by no means justifying Terrorism, but we must take an honest look at the reasons for it. Most people do seek revenge when a family member or friends is murdered. By stamping out terrorists, innocent people often get caught in the crossfire. Those innocent people have family members who seek out revenge. Thus the cycle continues.

Violence is a never ending cycle, the more powerful the force, the more powerful the return of force. It is only by extending compassion and finding ways to humanize people, that we can achieve greater peace. Where there is long standing blood feuds and great hatred, we must extend more compassion.

As we have seen in the past, it only takes a few people to stand up and start using compassion to inspire countless others to do the same. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and towards the end of his life Malcolm X, all used compassion to inspire others.

I think perhaps it is time for people to start looking at other options besides war and violence. As the cycle can be broken in domestic violence, so too can violence on much larger scales. But we must each take a responsibility to stop the violence in our own lives.

I myself practice the peaceful martial Art of Aikido right here in Castle Rock. Aikido is unique because it takes force and redirects it. The techniques disable the opponent without injuring them. If we can learn to stop violence in our own lives, (this includes shouting matches and harsh words) then perhaps it will begin to spread.

For those of us here in the United States there is currently little we can do to stop the violence on the Gaza strip but if we can remember that both sides are indeed human beings then that is a powerful start.

“Therefore the sage takes care of all men
And abandons no one.
He takes care of all things
And abandons nothing.

This is called "following the light."

What is a good man?
A teacher of a bad man.
What is a bad man?
A good man's charge.
If the teacher is not respected,
And the student not cared for,
Confusion will arise, however clever one is.
This is the crux of mystery.” –The Tao Te Ching Verse 27