I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death
your right to say it.”
– attributed to Voltaire
Sometimes it’s better to push and sometimes it’s better to
wait. This past month I’ve traveled, learned and made some music, and built
some new additions to my ham (amateur radio) station. Words for my T’ai Chi
journal seem to be inside, but not quite ready, and my inclination is to not
leave them, but to give them time.
During the past month, I have been exposed to some very
moving thoughts concerning the current state of ethics in education and
politics. At first I waited for these thoughts to coalesce into a clear and
simple direction about which I might write. I could at this point take sides
and argue for “Doing the right thing”, as I see it, but this would leave behind
many who might see things differently. A broader conception of True
spirituality might require that no one be left out.
The concept of Balance suggests that input from both sides
is needed to achieve harmony, or, in physical terms, relaxation and a lack of
the tension which blocks energy flow - is required for all the parts to work
together as a functional system.
The quote at the top of this page seems to have fallen in
disfavor lately. Politics are such that often, if you don’t agree with me, I’ll
shut you down if I can. Even schools and institutions of higher learning often
bow to the wishes of the more vocal proponents of the censoring of unpopular
views, and un-invite speakers if there are protests made by students with other
views.
When I was growing up in the 1950’s the public schools
taught that in a democracy we had the right to hear both sides, and that this
was what made our government better than dictatorships and totalitarian
regimes. Recently the concept of having compassion for those unlike ourselves
is not always popular. Regardless of ethical concerns which I personally might
hold, these lacks seem dysfunctional. Their exclusion of part of the whole
system engenders a lack of balance, and inhibits positive growth – just as it
would in practicing ones form.
These things are hard for me to write about without creating
the same polarization and inherent dysfunctional “Us versus them” processes which
I strive to see as not good or bad, but as just counter-productive.
The ability to listen, both verbally and nonverbally, to the
world around us, is integral to awareness. Loss of this input can be
detrimental to any activity.
This discourse is not meant to exclude, but to
perhaps to merely initiate contemplation.
Thanks to All.
