As I am inclined to do after such films, I did some research on it, and that led me to some interesting pages on authoritarian personality types (see also here, here, and here [3] ). I hope to use that information to fine tune the work I am attempting to do in order to better the world, but a point that came out of this period of history was an initial impression - from my reading - that the excuse for the coup d'état was tied up with the social chaos, including violence of left and right wing groups, and the thought which came to mind was a view attributed to the main character in Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Heartlight", that the effect that attempts to violently impose change have is to only create conditions which are a breeding ground for fascism.
Argentina's history shows, perhaps, that such a view could be a simplification, but I am hard pressed to find an example where physical violence has been an unqualified or even much of a success:
- the war against Nazism (where violence and social chaos led to the Nazis taking power - see here), Fascism and Japanese Imperialism of the Second World War was well justified, but its execution was flawed (e.g., see here, here [which was something Australia's highest scoring ace, "Killer" Caldwell admitted to doing], here [which was a response to the Malmedy Massacre, - and my favourite Uncle, Clive, who was one of the choco's in New Guinea, once said to me that prisoners weren't always taken back to base - see also here], here, here, here, here [although a small scale incident, records on this have been sealed for 75 years ... ], here [note the comments about legalities ... such 'niceties' are perhaps moot ... ] and here [4] [5] ), and led to the Cold War;
- the USA's War of Independence is perhaps an example, but the USA has done much to blot its copy book since gaining independence - for instance, its treatment of native Americans, and invading/destabilising various countries such as the Philippines, Iran, Chile, and Nicaragua, and undertaking actions when then create later problems - such as supporting the mujahedin against Russia in Afghanistan.
- has an appalling history in terms of our indigenous peoples;
- had a White Australia policy which had a major influence on the formation of South Africa's notorious apartheid policies;
- did nothing to stop the Indonesian annexation of West Papua or invasion of East Timor (despite the massive support given to Australian soldiers by East Timor during the Second World War - oh, and while we're on the topic of Indonesia, that nation has probably been the most successful in the world in seeking to counter terrorism in the last decade, and has made massive improvements under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, - I consider our recent stupidity in relation to spying on Indonesia and trying to stop asylum seekers to be completely unacceptable);
- behaved appallingly in relation to treaties with East Timor (although our actions when East Timor became free were good and other nations I've mentioned have also done acts that are 'good'); and
- has supported some questionable European and American wars - see here, here, here, and here, for instance.
Most disturbing of all, in relation to war, is this recent article I read ...
The solution, I consider, is for all people everywhere to raise themselves above such methods of dispute, and commit to being the best that they can. War is inherently violent, and thus, since the means shape the end, can never, ever lead to an unflawed outcome, even at the best.
This is a lesson that people may have to learn over time - for instance, Gandhi's opposition to violence appears to me to have crystallised in around 1920. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_K_Gandhi#Noncooperation:
The spark that ignited a national protest was overwhelming anger at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (or Amritsar massacre) of hundreds of peaceful civilians by British troops in Punjab. Many Britons celebrated the action as needed to prevent another violent uprising similar to the Rebellion of 1857, an attitude that caused many Indian leaders to decide the Raj was controlled by their enemies. Gandhi criticised both the actions of the British Raj and the retaliatory violence of Indians. He authored the resolution offering condolences to British civilian victims and condemning the riots which, after initial opposition in the party, was accepted following Gandhi's emotional speech advocating his principle that all violence was evil and could not be justified. [78]As another example, despite his later work for peace (acknowledged, for instance, by the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize), Nelson Mandela was instrumental in moving the African National Congress away from nonviolence in 1961 (see here).
Sometimes we need to learn lessons the hard way ...
[3] I must point out that people can actually valid reasons for feeling insecure - for instance, job insecurity, lack of personal validation from others/not being listened to or respected, being on death row, etc.
[4] According to this page [2], the Second World War killed the greatest absolute number of people in history: 40 -71 million, which equates to a range of 1.7 - 3.1% of the world's population. Other conflicts have higher percentage of the world population killed (30 million killed by the Mongols in the period1206 - 1368 CE, 30 million / 6.7% of the worlds population in 1340 - 1369 CE when the Ming dynasty established itself in China, 25 million / 4.8% when the Qing dynasty conquered the Ming over the period 1616 - 1662 CE, and between 20 and 100 million, or 1.6 to 8%, during the Taiping Rebellion). The point of this is that humans have, sadly, been quite capable of bloodthirsty savagery for a long time: therefore, it is not the just the weapons and rules of conflict that need to be managed, it is the flaws of human character which make such horror possible.
[5] Given the scope of atrocities by the Nazis, is this too hard a line to take? I don't consider it is - especially not if you claim to fighting for "what is right", but I also consider the example set by Gandhi in stopping the independence movement in India when it started to become violent (for a different view on Gandhi, see here).
[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
(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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
Jesus loves you. Odin wants you to grow up. (Facebook meme, according to John Beckett)
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
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
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: about me, growth, nonviolence, peace, society, violence, war,
First published: Tysdagr, 7th January, 2014
Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Tuesday, 7th January, 2014
