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Abstract

Still, if we let the worst of society lead the path of human decision-making then we are surely doomed.</p><p id="7627">A much harder path is called upon. How do we address these destructive acts in ways that protect and also lead towards successive approximations of a better world? Can we lean into these challenges with a Strong Back (being clear and resolute against destructive forces) and an Open Heart (with a readiness to invite our fellow humans into their best selves)?</p><p id="6370">This is not an invitation towards nonviolent resistance — though I do believe that path is a holy one. I have deep respect, for example, for the Ukrainian people’s choice to protect their homes militarily. I do not know if an alternative was possible given Putin’s intentions. I do not think that there is one universal answer to approaching problems with a Strong Back and an Open Heart.</p><p id="b353">Our lack of effort in many cases, however, feels like laziness and/or a failure of imagination.</p><p id="3f25">Here is a social commentary poem (haibun style) I posted a while back:</p><div id="e1e4" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/tyrants-fear-14fd44e6add3"> <div> <div> <h2>Tyrant’s Fear</h2> <div><h3>Social Commentary Haibun</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="b

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ackground-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*oYo6w7mVFoL4_f6aGFr3eA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="b126">And here is a previous story parable I shared:</p><div id="bcdd" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-parable-on-action-19ddee366a43"> <div> <div> <h2>A Parable on Action</h2> <div><h3>The Teachings of Stavros</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Wiw7Ji3EJxZFdKQMA2AGpQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="e97f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@drharrys/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Harry Stefanakis</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*hi2dzQzcpgbEtVJ_)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

They are NOT our Teachers

“military boots” by jirka.sodomka is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

A village that had been captured during the Nazi invasion was being taken back by the local defense forces. The enemy was in full retreat as the Allied forces marched in. During the celebration one of the Allied soldiers spotted an enemy soldier that was hiding off in the distance and was now making a run for it towards the hills. He raised his rifle to take him down. Just as he fired his captain raised his rifle up so that he would miss.

The soldier was aghast. He yelled, “Why did you do that? These guys murdered and raped our people! Why would you stop me from killing him?”

The captain looked at the soldier and simply said, “Because they are not our teachers.”

I heard a version of this story years ago and it stuck with me. There is no shortage of destructive acts that we have recently witnessed. It is tempting to wish upon the “other” what they have done unto us (or the people we care about). Still, if we let the worst of society lead the path of human decision-making then we are surely doomed.

A much harder path is called upon. How do we address these destructive acts in ways that protect and also lead towards successive approximations of a better world? Can we lean into these challenges with a Strong Back (being clear and resolute against destructive forces) and an Open Heart (with a readiness to invite our fellow humans into their best selves)?

This is not an invitation towards nonviolent resistance — though I do believe that path is a holy one. I have deep respect, for example, for the Ukrainian people’s choice to protect their homes militarily. I do not know if an alternative was possible given Putin’s intentions. I do not think that there is one universal answer to approaching problems with a Strong Back and an Open Heart.

Our lack of effort in many cases, however, feels like laziness and/or a failure of imagination.

Here is a social commentary poem (haibun style) I posted a while back:

And here is a previous story parable I shared:

Short Story
Parable
Compassion
Social Commentary
Nonviolence
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