Food for Thought – Honi soit qui mal y pense
“Hope” is the thing with feathers–
That perches in the soul–
And sings the tune without the words–
And never stops–at all–
And sweetest–in the Gale–is heard–
And sore must be the storm–
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm–
I’ve heard it in the chillest land–
And on the strangest Sea–
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb–of Me.
Emily Dickinson
When we grow up, we learn how easy it is to get into an argument… Start a fight, even if is the better variant, namely a fight with words, which can get heated too, at times.
And how easily we say things we don’t mean in a heated argument. I’ve posted about some of this before.
And then sometimes we hurt people’s feelings, even those near and dear, nilly willy…
The consequence often seems to be, growing up, that we stop ‘talking to’ people about anything that might seem remotely apt to hurt them. Their ideas, their needs, or wishes, or yearnings…
Instead we talk to people around us about the others.
Thus Peter will talk to Jane about Mary and what she seems to be or want – and he talks to Mary about Jane… but he will not talk to Jane about Jane.
And that can be by far the greatest pity of all, because assumptions we make in talking to others about someone else – and the very often wrong images created about those people – not only present a biased outlook on that person.
Not only can they hamper any future contact since we judge people basically by a ‘rumour’…
Assumptions are like the little story about the man and the hammer by Paul Watzlawick, a hyperbole:
the man wants to lend a hammer from his neighbour, starts remembering the neighbour’s recent looks and his own impressions – and ends up knocking on his neighbour’s door, almost yelling at him, when the door opens, he ‘well could keep his hammer for himself’ for all it’s worth!
While the neighbour mildly wonders what has happened.
Paul Watzlawick, an Austrian, famous in communication theory, in Europe and especially the US, who published this nice little book called: “Anleitung zum Unglücklichsein”/”The Situation Is Hopeless, But Not Serious: The Pursuit of Unhappiness”, 1983
Acting on assumptions only, in addition, we may miss out on the most interesting and perhaps most moving aspects and moments in life…
So, I would like to put this here:
Let’s be less daunted – talk to the other!
There they all are: Gathering speed and momentum: “Illegal aliens”, “migrants” are being blamed for difficulties. It’s an age-old argument, and just as ridiculous and stupid as the ‘war effort’ and its ‘necessities’: Kill people into the bargain? Just because you crave money, power and attention of the wealthy circles…?
The patterns are there, in history, for everyone to look up.
There is a new effort at getting Trump to leave, an impeachment, perhaps… I wonder how long it will take until those blind wealthy idiots start to realize who it is that keeps them wealthy: Exactly those ‘illegal aliens’, among others, they now so furiously kick out of the country.
Millions to spend on that programme – send them out?
When so many of those ‘migrants’ work hard and thus provide revenue and profits, make more businesses that actually employ more people…?
Who else really makes the money? Managers? They so often start the problems, because while getting millions of severance payments the ‘little folk’ are left in the ‘clear’…
So, quickly covering up, blaming the wrong ones; making more war, because that not only sells weapons you then produce more of, employing people that way.
In the meantime you send the ‘little people’ to the front, to get killed. Cannon fodder. Right?
Yes, right-wing politics. Covering it up: The scandals and the mismanagement.
Why would you try and negotiate properly…? As the present president Trump has already got them almost where he wants them: With threats and scare tactics regarding tariffs and weapon deliveries, especially to refuse proper negotiations with the opponent, Putin, he has pressured the NATO and the EU into practically crawling at his feet…including Ukraine.
It’s unbelievable, to think that a region like the EU – or, just as much the NATO – lets itself being blackmailed by someone like Trump into basically ‘jumping through hoops’ at his command…the ‘wonderful’ summit the other day with NATO leaders, him included was the perfect stage to ‘butter him up’.
Who knows, he will probably one day manage to do to the US what Putin is doing to Russia: Make it a dictatorship. The Supreme Court Justices already do his bidding as well…
What a spectacle…
When it’s so obvious that the US are just as dependent on others as others are on them…
What would he be without the NATO – or the EU – or Russia, especially?
Is that all?
Of course, it’s been put into so many words ever since mankind has started to use money instead of exchanging goods…
Contrary to the song’s (apparent) message above, I am proud enough to rather starve than to make myself depend on anyone rich… but, not everyone is the same.
Mr Trump apparently depends on his money to buy and bully himself the respect and attention he craves sooo much…
The song really is pure sarcasm, of course…
When you look at research at the time, and contacts in between, between Trump and Putin, that is – when you look at the articles of the New York Times – since sadly the Washington Post has been acquired already by Jeff Bezos, amazon founder, and is not dependable anymore – it seems rather obvious: The rich and wealthy (the oligarchs* behind people such as Putin) are starting to divide it between them: The oil, the gas – and ultimate profits, namely those by war and weapons.
One thing is true too: When you’ve bombed them back into the stone age you can waltz in later and again make money on repairs and rebuilding…
Who cares? I do. Still.
The Swedish pop group ABBA put it into these apt words in 1976, rather revealing, really…
* “oligarchy, government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes. Oligarchies in which members of the ruling group are wealthy or exercise their power through their wealth are known as plutocracies.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica Online)
* Oligarch: “one of the people in an oligarchy (= a government or society controlled by a small group of very powerful people)” (Cambridge Dictionary Online)
When you negotiate it is vital to understand your opponent at the table, especially in politics, in diplomacy! All this is actually an age-old knowledge and even wisdom to use. To recall, even look it up, where necessary.
What is the logic of this war…? For over 11 years now, with a lot of public attention small step by small step a nation like the Ukraine is supposed to be conquered…? By a country like Russia…? Slowly? – Seriously?
When you look at the map of current member states below, the parts of the world that are not intended or even actual members, the first thing striking the eye of the beholder is the relation towards Russia of member states…
Would anyone stay dumb when there is a pretty obvious encroaching of powers – and a constant threat, right outside the door, as it were?
One more reason to take each other seriously at last! Not just behind the scenes, but in front of cameras too.
To let people suffer and kill them day after day, just for the obvious reason that some people rather stay greedy, and in power by selling weapons, forcing deals, in order to make more money after scaring people out of their wits… is just cruel; also a clear sign of priorities!
There are societies with more freedom and more peace on the inside than Russia at the moment, no doubt about it!
But war?
It’s wrong.
Whatever your colour, creed or conviction you are not supposed to either kill, torture or bother other people! Period!
War is not a destiny! It’s not an accident! And it’s not a chance occurrence on a rainy Sunday…!
Start thinking – and properly. Start getting counselling and stop this madness! It has gone on far too long!
Author’s Note:
The principle is as old as mankind itself: When you want to get somewhere, you need to know two things, basically: Your finish line – and your starting point.
PEACE is some goal…
When it is a problem to be solved it is important to not just get a hazy idea of some problem or issue… a clear idea of the true problem is vital. Since, trying to find a solution without the clearly identified problem is pointless and a waste of time.
In other words: To get a clear picture of reasons for people doing something – or a system failing, you would look into history: Because it can help to find similar situations you can learn from.
And: Nothing in this life worth having comes easy…but that’s no reason to despair, but: “Keep at it – and remember about the breaks.”
We have come quite some way, in general!
In the past, people for centuries actually found it a great pastime to visit public torture and public hangings!
That has stopped.
In most countries around the world the death penalty has been abolished!
The most simple principle in that respect I have mentioned too, already:
Whatever you colour, creed, or conviction, you are not supposed to either kill, torture or bother other people. Period.
So, again, our goal as societies that have learned a thing or two about communities and responsibility – most, if not all of us yearn for peace: For peaceful coexistence. For more mutual understanding.
People in power these days once more seem, at the moment at least, have begun to realize that they are not just powerful for their own fun – or into the bargain; but that they carry the responsibility for exactly that kind of thing with them, each and every day:
Remember that you are not alone on this planet and that your ‘powerful’ existence as such would be pretty pointless without all the others around….
Since the dawn of time, one might say, diplomacy and negotiations follow rules. Iran and its people have every reason to be proud of a culture that is thousands of years old. Painting, drawing, poetry, music, hand-knotted carpets renowned throughout the world, cuisine…you name it: Wherever you look, it is refined and unique.
In addition the culture and tradition also make for certain rules of behaviour in terms of dignity and pride to be observed when negotiating. At least the more experienced generations of diplomats in the West might still know about them. Many were well-known for centuries over here too.
Recent foreign politics initiated by a person called Trump who is president of the USA again, introduced his favourite way of ‘making deals’: Put the pressure on, bully, scare, and get what you want in the end.
Mr Trump never was one for subtleties, not really well-known for tact or refinement – so far.
I actually wrote to the office of the president a while ago. Perhaps they will care to talk to proper counsellers yet.
One thing is for sure: Iran is well aware of the achievements of its culture and history. They have self-confidence enough to value their dignity. They will not stoop to pressure or scare tactics.
“Weapons of mass destruction” – that was the phrase and apparent reason former president Bush used at the time to attack Iraq; where oil also exists in abundance…oil, yes. That kind of weapons, so it turned out: no.
The contracts with Iran had been there! Uranium enrichment control had been negotiated among others with the former president Barrack Obama, over a decade, actually. Trump cancelled them. Do we call that a ‘smart move’…?
If all of the people and organizations concerned are really interested in getting anywhere with this, start treating Iran as a country and equal opponent. Stop treating them like a wayward child.
Yes, of course: It’s past a pandemic. Look at times in history, when people died in heaps, literally: Bodies everywhere in the streets, literally — in heaps.
So, business is slow, because we saw inflation due to high costs of the pandemic’s health measures: Everywhere when it was declared to have stopped businesses and shops raised their prices. Certain businesses stagnated and smaller shops had to close in large numbers.
People in such times start saving their money instead of spending it. Since sales, profits, revenues, are central in this kind of system, the inflation rose again.
In other words: Supply and demand.
No demand, normal or high supply = no profits.
Businesses have to close, lay off personnel, result: Less spending and thus less sales…
Again, the supply and demand chain.
When markets stay low, and slow, what to do?
One of the very old and often and too soon used methods is: Make a war.
People get distracted. They start worrying about other things.
They may even attribute slow economy and loosing their jobs to the war — and the ‘enemy’.
Meanwhile, weapons have to be produced: They need personnel they will be sold, more people start spending again, and with ‘luck’, apparently the slump will be over…
Well, a few other people die — but — what the heck..? If the government and dictators keep their jobs a little longer.. and others finally get to spend their vacation at the seaside again… who cares?
Well, I do. And I know there are others out there, who do too.
This is to all of you wealthy and powerful: Think again.
Remember:
Whatever your creed, colour or conviction, you are not supposed to kill, torture or bother other people. Period.
There are enough people who know that Trump is not to be trusted. Neither is the statement about ‘just’ wanting to destroy the Uranium enrichment facilities in Iran. Nor the ideas in relation to tariff raises for all and any countries outside the US. That’s blackmail, pure and simple.
To start a war on a country to pressure it into deals is extortion.
Even inside the USA people protest against his politics.
As far as Iran is concerned, I wonder how it is possible that almost any diplomatic respect and rules for negotiation have apparently let go?
Since when would you try and pressurize or scare a whole country into a certain position, when before you yourself made negotiations impossible?
Trump cancelled those contracts that had been agreed upon between the US, EU and the IAEA after 10 years of negotiation!
Is it really feasible that any country – how about the US? – would take it like a scared animal, run, hide and then concede anything?
If you do not know yourself and human beings you cannot possibly understand others. Understanding the other, your opposite at the table, is crucial in order to negotiate.
Again I want to remind us all of the 30-Years’-War in Europe during the 17th century: It was not only a long war, with a number indicating that – it took actually 30 years and it left Europe devastated and devoid of more than 50% of its population; whole regions were left waste and destroyed.
The common history and latent memory of humans make it one of the dreadful periods of time. It took years to end that war!
Negotiations were conducted again and again.
Finally, they were successful.
The same way the first agreements about Uranium enrichment control between Iran and the parties concerned took 10 years!
It was the height of irresponsibility to cancel those contracts!
Years later, a country under threats from all sides is moved into a position that leaves almost no way out…
People, start thinking: This is no way to handle that country and its situation!
Iran, for all its internal politics of cruelty and suppression, with reason is proud of a rich and thousands of years old culture and tradition, much older than the Islamic religion.
Additionally, they are used to natural disasters and foreign potentates from all sides attacking that country just for its rich soils, and huge amounts of oil and gas. They had to learn resilience and it has developed into a fine art, basically.
Starting a war can only end in dreadful consequences and more lives lost, yet.
They say, I mentioned this a while ago, that the emperor Nero of ancient Rome was supposed to be silly; not to say — mad. He was suspected for ages to have set fire to Rome in order to watch it go under in ‘supreme’ flames… and to play the lute as accompaniment.
I wonder, if he was… more recent findings seem to indicate that he couldn’t have burned a whole city because it would have meant literally hundreds of helpers, who would have been too hard to find…even in those times.
Whichever the case was exactly:
Facts are: Rome burnt that day.
And Trump is on his way to do the same. Just a little more modern and true to dictators’ forms: He has bought himself some followers and supporters.
And during his first time in office he already replaced four of the total of nine Supreme Court Justices. So he also has bought himself some justices…
Which makes for ‘smooth sailing’ now.
Another win (‘surprise surprise surprise’…) in front of it: Although he already is a convicted felon on 34 counts ruled guilty in front of a yet existent and legal court of law of the United States of America he not only has been voted (even if it was indeed a very close shave) for the office of president.
He also does everything he can to heap atrocity on outrage, one after another: Supporting people like Netanyahu in Israel who has set Gaza strip and West Bank ‘on fire’. Torturing and killing people on the pretense that it is the terrorists of the Hamas he is trying to hit…
Being on best terms with Putin in Russia, although claiming the contrary.
Power corrupts, apparently. Money does too, some people at least.
Trump knows how to wield terror and use his money to extort and blackmail and bully – true to form. It’s his life’s story. I wonder how dreadfully empty inside he must feel at times – forcing people around him to lie and lick his boots.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray”, by Oscar Wilde, comes to mind.
It even appears that at the moment the threat of Putin to the EU has done what nothing else could more effectively do, so they both get what they want:
Via Trump Putin gets Ukraine.
Via Putin’s apparent threats NATO and EU lick Trump’s boots who can pose as the saviour, and on the side is ‘making the weapon industry’ heaps of money.
Lo and behold: There are still horror stories out there…
‘Denver Clan’ and ‘Dallas’ revisited…
Would that person called Trump be really pitiful, because a half-wit, unable to grasp facts, or actually disturbed in mind, that would be different.
But he is perfectly capable to see the ‘light’ of sense and clear thought. And refuses to do so… And that is his own doing and his own fault.
He is not to be pitied.
In ancient times there was a story of a king, who was cruel, selfish and lawless. Who had a virgin brought to his bedside every night, to revenge himself — from disappointed love, on all womankind — and had each of them killed the next morning.
Scheherazade one day made her father bring her to the throne and started to tell stories to the king. Each she left unfinished so he would be curious for the next night and the ending of that story. When she started another one. After 1001 nights and 1000 stories he let her stay alive and married her, being a more wise and kind king than any before him.
The story not only makes it clear that ‘love’s way to a man’s heart actually is not through the stomach’ — but his mind. As true love always is.
It also and in vivid colours shows that true understanding, grace and wisdom comes from education and empathy.
By the knowledge that no man or woman is alone or actually can exist on their own on this planet. And that we should at some point learn where true calm and serenity and thus happiness lies:
In self-respect which in turn generates respect and even liking for your fellow man — as well as woman.