JustMe: If you can't convince..

Submitted by Anonymous (Sweden), Mar 15, 2006 at 09:15

(JustMe, you said: "It would do you some good to question the radical ideas being presented by some on this board. Just because I questioned what you meant by saying, "If you can't convince them, confuse them," you didn't like my response. Of course, you never answered what you meant by that, except to say I should go to the doctor because I'm finding hidden meanings and conspiracy in what you said".)

JustMe, you asked me what I meant by quoting from ancient chinese religion, 'If you cant convince.. confuse'. Though I am not bound by western laws to answer your questions, I am clarifing the matter to you for the sake of your peace and health and also for the sane readers.

Here's the backgroung of my statement: I work in an international organisation and the nature of my job demands understading other religions and culture. I attended a couse two years back that was participated by as many as 67 participants from 23 countries representing 9 religions. The objective of that programme was to promote understanding and cooperation between different cultures and faiths. We all gave presentations on our respective religions and then answered questions. It was followed by long discussions.

First, there were tensions and misunderstanding among participants. There were heated debates as well. But later we were surprised to see that the more we communicated the more we understood one another, and even could defend other groups. The last participant was from Singapore who gave presentation on the major religions in China- Confucianism ; Taoism and Buddhism. He said that all 'Abrahamic religions' (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) had something wrong in their teachings otherwise why most of the bloodshed in the history was caused by these three religions. Naturally, all the followers of these 3 religions were 'united' (that was a rare scene) to protest in one voice. Then the participant said that in Confucianism (or it could be Taoism, I forgot) it is taught not to fight back for defending oneself. They are taught to be more polite when attacked, so that the person attacking them CAN NOT find another reason to attack further. That is their strategy, as I remember him saying 'big and strong trees cannot bend, so they cannot survive the strongest winds, whereas small grass are flexible and can survive strorms by bending down'.

Their philosophy is ' If you cannot convince your enemies of your good intentions, at least don't prove to them that they have reasons to attack you. They say- 'be nice with your enemies when they attack, and then they would feel that you are nice people and its them who misunderstood you. That would confuse them, their anger will not get fuel.

So now I hope that you understand that I was not conspiring with Libyan to take away Europe from you. Please read my posting to Libyan again and you'll now see that I was telling him about the benefits of healthy arguments. Whatever you say in support of war and religious intolerance, I learnt and firmly believe that people of different faiths CAN be frineds and CAN LIVE PEACEFULLY if all parties are tolerant and respectful of others' views. This is not only applicable for acheiving religious harmony but also for upholding the values of democracy.

Another thing, JustMe, if you only want to fight and insult others, that will not lead you to peace. I am not interested to argue with any opponent whose blood is boiling for battles. I want peaceful communication and healthy arguments. If I wanted excitements of war, I would have played star war with my kid at the computer.

Last but not the least, JustMe, here is my email address: shehnya@yahoo.com.
Send me an email and I will give you my address. Since I am not making secret plans to conquer Europre, I don't fear that any fanatic will attack me if I'm identified.

The Muslim participants at these board, specially Another one and Libyan are also welcome to write to me.

Peace.

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