Now, I think a lot of modern borders are problematic, as they probably more often than not don't match cultural and geographic boundaries, being formed as a result of where past wars stopped, or political compromises that have been reached in the past. This is particularly the case in Africa, where past colonial boundaries have done as much as anything else, in my opinion, to create situations where conflict was more likely to occur than not, but some of the changes to territory in Europe also illustrate this. Part of my family came from Silesia a long time ago, and it is amazing the changes that have happened to that region, for instance, over the succeeding century and a bit.
The thing about all this is, though, that we are all citizens of this small planet, to paraphrase former President John F. Kennedy's words. We all have to learn to get along, and part of that is respecting other people's boundaries, whether it is not standing too close to a stranger, respecting the private property and personal space of people you live with, accepting that co-workers and other voters may have views that differ from yours, or sharing a region of the earth with other cultures.
This makes Putin's claimed reasons for annexing the Crimea wrong. There may have been concerns that the people living there had, and there was the incredible complication of Russia's Black Sea fleet being there (a bit like the USA has Guantanamo Bay on Cuba), but the solution is to do things in a civil manner - not to act like a bully and a thug.
I think that, if it came down to an act of self determination, unlike those in places like West Papua, the people of Crimea would have voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia - and, under those circumstances, I would support them and expect the Ukraine to gracefully accept their decision. I would also expect Crimea to treat Ukrainians in their territory with respect and dignity.
The situation now has been changed by the bullying of President Putin (the means shape the end). Bullies need to be stood up to - albeit without resorting to their tactics, or doing something to make future situations worse. It is a difficult situation, and what I will be working on is for all involved to find a BPLF [1] way to resolve this problem. As I do so, I will remember that there have been - rarely, very, very, very rarely - wars that are just (the Second World War was largely about defeating evil, for example), but I am not convinced we are quite there yet. Furthermore, I am very much aware that people such as Putin, like all such people, are not destroyed at the end of their current incarnation: they will be reborn, and what is done to them now will shape how they treat others in future lives (as is also the case with, for instance, people who are executed for crimes). Will any particular action help heal them, or will it harden their problems?
I think the key here is to not repeat the mistakes (read Note 3!) of appeasement [3] (in other words, the Second World War could have been much smaller and less destructive if the bullying of Hitler had been stood up to earlier ... and then there is the whole situation of creating the circumstances which led to Hitler being in power in the first place): yes, as I wrote, bullies need to be stood up to, and there are constructive and destructive ways to stand up to a bully (I think that difference has been well illustrated by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu), but there are other people involved here, other people are being harmed and could be harmed even more, particularly by war. The actions of bullies are wrong, and Putin's approach to the Ukraine and Crimea has been wrong: above all else, Putin needs to be restrained - by BPLF means (the means shape the end, remember, which is a lesson the CIA failed to learn in the past) - from harming more people.
Now, also remember that there are lots of other conflicts, civil wars and wars in other places of the world. They all also need help, and they have the massive disadvantage of not attracting much media attention, but see here for more on them.
Above all else, please exercise your right and ability to think clearly and well, and as objectively and broadly in perspective as possible, on all this - including this post.
PS - restraining someone from harming others can NEVER be taken as an opportunity to have revenge - even on an unconscious level If you do not do so from a totally loving position, then you risk making the same error as Putin, and contaminating your end with tainted means.
PPS - for another view of this situation, see http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/03/ukraine-theres-no-way-out-unless-the-west-understands-its-past-mistakes, which adds the perspective of history and draws a useful parallel to the USA's possible errors with regard to China. There is also some perspective from the point of view of Russian speaking people in the Ukraine at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/02/not-too-late-for-ukraine-nato-should-back-off, but I consider that article misses the point of my post about means and ends and bullies.
[3] Note the following from the Wikipedia link on this:
More recently, however, historians have questioned the accuracy of this simple distinction between appeasers and anti-appeasers. "Few appeasers were really prepared to seek peace at any price; few, if any, anti-appeasers were prepared for Britain to make a stand against aggression whatever the circumstances and wherever the location in which it occurred."and
In 1961 this view of appeasement as avoidable error and cowardice was set on its head by A.J.P. Taylor in his book The Origins of the Second World War. Taylor argued that Hitler did not have a blueprint for war and was behaving much as any other German leader might have done. Appeasement was an active policy, and not a passive one; allowing Hitler to consolidate himself was a policy implemented by "men confronted with real problems, doing their best in the circumstances of their time". Taylor said that appeasement ought to be seen as a rational response to an unpredictable leader, appropriate to the time both diplomatically and politically.In addition, I understand that John F Kennedy made an argument that appeasement gave the UK a chance to prepare for the coming war.
[1] BPLF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Light Forces. See here and here for more on this.
[2] Please see here and my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. I'm also exploring use of h2g2, although that doesn't appear to be as extensive (h2g2 is intended - rather engagingly - to be the Earth edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").
Love, light, hugs and blessings
[2] Please see here and my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. I'm also exploring use of h2g2, although that doesn't appear to be as extensive (h2g2 is intended - rather engagingly - to be the Earth edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").
Love, light, hugs and blessings
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix Lux? Morinehtar? Would-be drýicgan ... )
My "blogiography" (list of all posts - currently not up to date) is here.
I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "pagans for peace" project (and join me at 9 PM on Sunday, wherever you are, to meditate for peace), and here for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend learning how to flame, ground and shield, do alternate nostril breathing, work with colour - and see also here, and be flexible.
I am a Walker upon the Path of Balanced Positivity, seeking Spiritual Maturity.
- One size does NOT fit all.
- Don't be mediocre - seek to excel.
- Gnwmythr's Stropping Strap: Occam's Razor only works if the simplest solution is actually recognised as being the simplest, rather than the one that best fits one's bigotries being labelled 'simplest'.
- May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
- Ban the dream interpretation industry!
- A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
- Housework is for ensuring a home is comfortable to live in, not competing to outdo or belittle others.
- Being accustomed to interacting via certain rules makes those rules neither right nor universal.
- Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master.
- Expertise at intimacy and emotional happiness is generally not the same thing as spiritual growth.
- "Following the crowd" is not "going with the flow".
- Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." and/or "Everyone knows ... " and/or "they can ..." and what Bruce Schneier [2] calls "security theatre" on one side, and perspicacity and the understanding that the means shape the end on the other. Indolence vs. perspicacity, and expediency vs. honour.
- The means shape the end.
- BPLF restraint of uncooperatives is NOT an opportunity for revenge or getting even - even unconsciously.
- As words can kill, the right to freedom of speech comes with a DUTY to be as well-informed, objective and balanced as you can be.
- My favourite action movie of all time is "Gandhi", although I've recently come across "Invictus" and might put that one in to that category. However, I loathe the stereotypical action movie - and, for similar reasons, I loathe many dramas, which are often emotionally violent, more so in some cases than many war films.
- All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...
Do not pray for easy
lives. Pray to be stronger [people]. JOHN F. KENNEDY (who was quoting 19th
century Episcopal Bishop Phillips Brooks)
We make our decisions. And then our decisions turn around and make us. F.W. BOREHAM
Females, get over 'cute'. Get competent. Get trained. Get capable. Get over 'cute'. And those of you who are called Patty and Debby and Suzy, get over that.
Because we use those names to infantalise females – we keep females in
their 'little girl' state by the names we use for them. Get over it. If
you want to be taken seriously, get serious. JANE ELLIOTT
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." EINSTEIN
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." EINSTEIN
We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW
Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, and the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change." SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY (US Attorney General 1966 Speech)
Too
much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and
community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross
national product ... if we should judge America by that -- counts air
pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our
highways of carnage. ... Yet the gross national product does not allow
for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the
joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the
strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the
integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our
courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor
our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except
that which makes life worthwhile." ROBERT F. KENNEDY 1968
Tags: peace,
First published: Sunnudagr, 2nd March, 2014
Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Monday, 3rd March, 2014 (added the PPS)
