Thursday, February 27, 2014

Standing Up For What's Right: Neutrality vs. Peace Making



In times of trouble the common and unfortunate behaviour demonstrated by individuals and groups is one of 'Neutrality'.  Neutrality is defined as; "the state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, impartiality."  It further appears that in society 'Neutrality' is now seen as a form of Peace Making, and 'not getting involved' is an act of conflict resolution.

I find it personally interesting that individuals claim 'Neutrality' in various instances of conflict while maintaining the guise of 'Peace Making'.  If these same people decide to put 'Neutrality' first in times of conflict; they unknowingly (or perhaps knowingly) make "Toleration" the ultimate goal. Tolerance is not Peace. Neutrality is not Peace. These people sacrifice their morality for the sake of avoiding conflict.
If you are 100% Neutral than you are %100 Tolerant.

The act of 'not getting involved' is also illustrated through recent bullying epidemics. Most people do not approve of bullying, but very few will actually intervene on behalf of the victim. There are different theories for this behaviour. Firstly; is that the bystander risks getting attacked by the bully if they stand up for the victim. Secondly: If they stand up for the victim they know it's unlikely for anyone to stand up for them if they need additional support and Thirdly; there's this notion of karma, 'People get what they deserve and they deserve what they get'.





 

In 1928, a man by the name of Elie Wiesel was born in Poland to a Jewish family. As a child he witnessed first hand the horrors of the Holocaust. In 1944, Elie and his Father were separated from the rest of their family and put into a male Work Camp in Buna a subcamp of Auschwitz. They worked and lived in the most appalling conditions imaginable for a period of eight months leading up to the end of the war. His father was beaten severely by a Nazi for being exhausted and sick with dysentery and was then sent to a crematorium only weeks before the camp was liberated by U.S. Army.

Elie is now a successful professor, political activist and author. He writes about the price of neutrality:

"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."






Another favourite quote of mine comes from Desmond Tutu that speaks to the issue of Neutrality:

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."


Martin Luther spoke on the same subject saying, "Peace if possible, Truth at all costs!"


I get it.. Conflict sucks. I myself find it very hard to deal with confrontation directly. At times I feel it's easier to stand up for other people than it is to stand up for myself. But even though conflict is tough, I know enough to know that it is very important. What if no one stood up against the Nazis? What if no one stood up and said Slavery is wrong?  All of those people entered into conflict and they boldly walked in risking their lives. Of course, my personal areas of conflict are not so grave and dangerous... all the more reason I suppose to 'suck it up' and stand up for myself. If all of these other people before me, and still today, are able to stand up in the face of death to fight for justice, can't I myself do the same for my own small area's of personal confrontation? It may be uncomfortable, and it may not 'win' me any extra friends... but when it comes to standing up for something of value and importance or shrinking away and sitting down in the face of adversity, I choose to STAND.




Cheers,
Bootsy

4 comments:

  1. Yes this is absolutely true. It's hard and sometimes dangerous. But what do we become if we don't stand up for each other. We certainly love it when others come to help us in time of oppression. We need to help others. This is a spirit that lies within to stand up and make a difference. To protect, nurture and care for another is to care for yourself.
    To act and be a person with character, strength and wisdom for a better world.

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  2. Thanks for your comment C Lake!!

    Agreed! I have many times in my life when I wished that someone would have stuck up for me. I personally suffered from bullying throughout my childhood and adulthood and I have an extremely low tolerance for bullying when I see it happening to others. The 'herd effect' is so well known that perhaps if we teach our kids about it they could recognize when it's happening, and ultimately change up the situation. It might encourage them to step out and stand up. :)

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  3. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
    ~ JFK (and others)

    People do seem far more ready to jump on a hate wagon than to defend against one. I don't know if it's the type of people (I do think some of the most fair-minded people may also tend to be over-thinkers and under-actioners) or if it's a cultural thing, but the only way to stop bullying is to openly show support for those being bullied. Even if you don't want your opinion to be pigeon-holed into a sound bite, saying you don't have one is probably worse.

    You don't even always have to be directly confrontational to do it - look at 2:30 on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrJxqvalFxM

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  4. Wow!!! Thanks for Sharing! I love this video... it speaks volumes with out really saying a word. I've never heard that quote before but it is so true.. I love it! Yes, it does seem that people prefer the company of those on the 'Hate Wagon'.

    "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
    Matthew 7:13-14

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