Building
with one hand, destroying with the other
Introduction:
I
am an optimist. I have great faith in the human spirit. People
are, in their essence, good, and that essence must be nurtured
and allowed to flourish. For me life is not complex, but is complicated
by people who seem bent on creating unnecessary obstacles that
go against their own principles, against their own self-interest,
and against the laws of our natural universe. Solutions to the
problems of the world are not mysterious. Many people and thinkers
already know how to solve the problems, and the ways and means
for doing so already exist. The perversity of human leadership
seems, however, to thrive on creating problems and then fighting
vigorously to prevent solving them. At the same time, in their
ignorance, they feel that they are doing good, blind to the suffering
and negative consequences they cause, postponing the realization
of human happiness, achievement and world peace.
As
2005 comes to an end, the list of threats to human survival is
long and foreboding. An intelligent optimist is not blind to problems,
but nevertheless will persistently remind oneself and others that
a better life for all is achievable. An optimist will expose how
destructive forces are negating the human calling to make our
planet a sacred home. This home will be a happy, safe, healthy
and prosperous place for all, when humans stop causing unnecessary
contradictions to the laws and principles of harmonious living.
Harmony
is not the absence of conflict. Rather, it is the balanced reconciliation
of the dualities that cause energy to flow and progress to move
forward. Conflict is not bad when it brings us to heights of new
realizations. It produces the joy of a summit conquered, the joy
of creative expression, the joy of solving a problem. Creative
conflict which is ever-present in a healthy universe, is based
on the interaction and reconciliation of opposites. It is regenerative
and prevents stagnation and degeneration. It creates something
new and better that never before existed. Destructive conflict,
on the other hand, are actions that lack integrity.
Integrity is the balance and integration of motive, means of achieving
goals, and ultimate outcome. Here is a simple example of this:
Problem:
The high school swim team needs to raise money to travel to swim
meets.
Solution 1: The team has a candy sale to raise the money.
Solution 2: The team has a swim-a-thon for which they find
sponsors to donate to team members based on the quantity of laps
they swim.
Solution
1 lacks integrity because the way the money is raised does not
reflect the purpose of the team. There is not harmony between
their purpose and the way they reach their goals.
Solution 2 has integrity because the way they solve their problem
and reach their goals is congruent with their purpose. Not only
will they raise their money, but they will earn the bonus of a
more fit team which will make them more successful.
A
solution that has integrity has benefits beyond just reaching
the short-term goal. On the other hand, a solution that lacks
integrity often produces unforeseen negative consequences. When
we view politics and relationships in the world today we see leaders
building with one hand and destroying with the other. They make
policies and promises with high sounding words and slogans like
"freedom" and "democracy" that resonate with
people's hopes and the good image they have of themselves. Then
they use methods which undermine their goals and their image.
My own country, the United States, self-proclaimed leader of the
"free world," uses methods of war, torture, limitation
of human rights, lies and bribery, rejects international treaties
on global warming and children's rights, undermines environmental
protections and international conventions, favors those who have
much and neglets those in need in order to reach its goals. When
the United States does this it gives implicit permission to other
governments to do the same.
Next
month's article will deal with the philosophical basis for
integrity - how harmony is achieved and how conflict may result
in either good or bad results depending upon human behavior.
©
2005 Richard Sidy
Contact
me with your comments about this topic