Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn't make any sense.
- (Sufi Poet Rumi)


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

A Fragile World Order




In the last few weeks we have heard plenty about the WikiLeaks and the appropriateness of exposing 250,000 diplomatic cables.  I was struck by the response by David Brooks, commentator for the New York Times.  After reading the cables he said, "Israeli and Arab diplomats can be seen reacting sympathetically and realistically towards one another. The Americans in the cables are generally savvy and honest. . .We depend on these conversations for the limited order we enjoy every day."

I couldn't agree more. 

Now just imagine if these conversations  were full of no difference between wrongdoing and rightdoing. What if the needs of "enemies" were as equally valued as those of "friends?"  What if we ran our world order on an economy of equally valued needs, and not brokerage of power and resources?

If we humans can produce such understanding  as Mr. Brooks sees in these people who are in the midst of such power and politics, imagine what we might do with a nonviolent consciousness running through the diplomatic corps? 

Yes, it's fragile now, but in my alternate scenario, it would be flourishing.

3 comments:

  1. Just one more reason why I appreciate the commentary of David Brooks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Now just imagine if these conversations were full of no difference between wrongdoing and rightdoing. What if the needs of "enemies" were as equally valued as those of "friends?" What if "theft" was just "borrowing"? What if "rape" was just "making love"? What if "war" was "peace"?*



    * Yes that is a George Orwell reference

    ReplyDelete
  3. Come to think of it. . .

    What if "murder" was just "straying"?

    ReplyDelete