The Temple of Bacchus
"An immediate cease-fire without political conditions does not make sense."
- Condaleezza Rice, US Secretary of State
Beware of the relationship between colonial inspired authority and the ability to absorb and internalise oppression.
The Jews have had to absorb almost 2000 years of discrimination. The Nazis taught the Israelis how to fulfill Nelson Mandela's insight that the oppressed often absorb the qualities of the oppressor. The Palestinians have spent the last half century or so absorbing that crystallised hatred of the 'Other'. When the Palestinians get back control of their lands (which they will eventually do), will they have been battered enough so that the only option they see is to continue proving Mandela's observation correct?
Unfortunately, colonialism is not yet dead and we are seeing the 'fruits' of the wilfull ignorance of human dignity. Knowledge is not predicated on the awareness of facts, especially those constructed within the prism of imagined superiority. Human based knowledge can only ever be just that. God is quoted as saying as (though I'd be interested in meeting the reporter...); "My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts."
Dignity exists in and of itself as an opportunity. Jesus saw through to it's essence when he sat with the lepers and the prostitutes. Muhammad also understood it's nature when violated when he curtailed retribution under a reactive pride...
Condaleezza Rice would do well to understand the legacy that these two men left us.
- Condaleezza Rice, US Secretary of State
Beware of the relationship between colonial inspired authority and the ability to absorb and internalise oppression.
The Jews have had to absorb almost 2000 years of discrimination. The Nazis taught the Israelis how to fulfill Nelson Mandela's insight that the oppressed often absorb the qualities of the oppressor. The Palestinians have spent the last half century or so absorbing that crystallised hatred of the 'Other'. When the Palestinians get back control of their lands (which they will eventually do), will they have been battered enough so that the only option they see is to continue proving Mandela's observation correct?
Unfortunately, colonialism is not yet dead and we are seeing the 'fruits' of the wilfull ignorance of human dignity. Knowledge is not predicated on the awareness of facts, especially those constructed within the prism of imagined superiority. Human based knowledge can only ever be just that. God is quoted as saying as (though I'd be interested in meeting the reporter...); "My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts."
Dignity exists in and of itself as an opportunity. Jesus saw through to it's essence when he sat with the lepers and the prostitutes. Muhammad also understood it's nature when violated when he curtailed retribution under a reactive pride...
Condaleezza Rice would do well to understand the legacy that these two men left us.
posted by sleiman @ 9:58 AM
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