[Peace-discuss] N-G letter attacks Lancet study

[Laurie at advancenet.net]

Nick,

Somehow I do not think that respecting one's enemy is the basis for the
saying and the truth that underlies it.  One holds one's enemy closer than
one's friends to prevent them from stabbing you; thus the basis for the
saying is distrust and not respect.  But I guess distrust can be the
grounding for a tenuous peace.

Respecting one's enemy may not be the fastest way towards peace; but it is a
good basis for undertaking deliberate rational actions with respect to one's
enemy rather than irrational emotional reactions without concern for the
consequences as we in the US are prone to do in the name of God,
Christianity, Democracy, Capitalism, or some other religious, moral, or
political ideology.  Interestingly, the whole notion of mutual destruction
that served to maintain peace during the cold war is in part based on
respect for the capabilities of one's enemies and stands in contrast to the
"better dead then red" approach which (a) disrespects one's enemy and is
based on notions of superiority over one's enemies as well as negative
projection of one's own evil propensities on them; (b) demonizes one's
enemies to the point of ignoring the rational notion that they also have
vested national interests to protect; and (c) entails an inflexible,
non-adaptive, and dysfunctional attitude toward resolution of issues and
problems.

In response to Stuart's question, "Why are we in the habit of acting this
way when people of some other cultures do not?, the answer is in the
question.  It is the culture.  Not just the US but the whole western world
comes from a moralistic cultural tradition which is absolutist (seeing the
world as black and white), inflexible (unwilling and often unable to change
or undergo significant modifications in world view), filled with hubris and
arrogance along with more than a hint of self-righteousness, etc. In fact,
this is also true of the Muslim world which essentially grew up with ancient
Judaism and shares many of the same principles as both Judaism and
Christianity.  It would appear that the more tolerant and flexible cultures
come from India and Asia for the most part (a possible exception possibly
would be the Native American indigenous peoples in the US and Canada
including Alaska).

> -----Original Message-----
> From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [mailto:peace-discuss-
> bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of n.dahlheim at mchsi.com
> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:46 AM
> To: Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] N-G letter attacks Lancet study
> 
> I think that is why there is truth to the saying that you should hold
> your friends close but your enemies
> closer...  Respecting your enemy is the fastest way towards peace in
> the end.
> 
> 
> 
> ----------------------  Original Message:  ---------------------
> From:    "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at uiuc.edu>
> To:      Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu>
> Cc:      peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] N-G letter attacks Lancet study
> Date:    Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:02:44 +0000
> 
> > Two parallels occur, one almost exact: Robin Hood and Little John.
> >
> > Another is from Kipling, but I think we might in fact come up with a
> lot
> > more:
> >
> > "...They have looked each other between the eyes, and there they
> found
> > no fault,
> > They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on leavened bread
> and salt:
> > They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on fire and fresh-
> cut sod,
> > On the hilt and the haft of the Khyber knife, and the Wondrous Names
> of God.
> > The Colonel's son he rides the mare and Kamal's boy the dun,
> > And two have come back to Fort Bukloh where there went forth but one.
> > And when they drew to the Quarter-Guard, full twenty swords flew
> clear--
> > There was not a man but carried his feud with the blood of the
> mountaineer.
> > 'Ha' done! ha' done!' said the Colonel's son. 'Put up the steel at
> your
> > sides!
> > Last night ye had struck at a Border thief -- to-night 'Tis a man of
> the
> > Guides!'
> >
> > "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
> > Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;
> > But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
> > When two strong men stand face to face, tho' they come from the ends
> of
> > the earth!"
> >
> >
> > Stuart Levy wrote:
> > > ...
> > > Why are we in the habit of acting this way when people of
> > > some other cultures do not?  When US soldiers who had
> > > fought in Vietnam go there today, we often hear that they
> > > are welcomed, in spite of having participated in vast destruction
> > > and loss of life.   And if the past invading country gets a
> > > label, it doesn't appear to be "evildoer".
> > >
> > > I was charmed to read (in translation) a classic Chinese story,
> > > "Outlaws of the Marsh".  One or another of the characters will be
> > > travelling peacefully along until being attacked, often nearly
> killed,
> > > by a bandit.  Character overcomes the attack, and... what would
> happen
> > > in a Western story?  Righteous slaying of the evil attacker?
> Enslavement?
> > > Surely at least undying enmity.  Not so here.
> > > Having demonstrated to each other that they are worthy
> > > opponents, attacker and attackee become fast friends,
> > > and stick by each other in further adventures.
> > >
> > >
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