On Nov 2, 11:54 pm, atypican <[email protected]> wrote: > > Resist not evil. > > Bridge do you think that is a wise or even loving piece of advice? >
I do. It's just tough advice to follow. It led Jesus to the cross. There's an Islamic corollary. In a battle, Ali knocks his opponent to the ground. As he begins his killing swing his opponent spits in his face, angering him. He steps back and lets his opponent get up. They reengage, his opponent is knocked down again and slain. Yoda might say, "Do or do not, there is no right." > On Oct 31, 9:00 pm, Bridge <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > On Oct 27, 3:11 pm, ShuutokuTentei <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Words > > > > One single word can ignite a nation, another unite a people, a > > > third causes us to step back in awe. Like the four seasons there is a > > > time and a place for the words we write or speak. Our words can dam > > > up a river, or release a raging torrent that destroys everything in it > > > path. Sometimes our words are careless, sometimes deliberate, often > > > carefully pointed, and meant to illicit responsiveness. Can we say > > > that our most eloquent words spoken from our heart always induce the > > > intentions of good we expected when we sent them out? What motivates > > > us to speak the words we speak? Are all our elocutions sanctified by > > > the divine, or do we miss-speak in evoking his name. What part of our > > > words is he, and what part of our words is we? Most importantly, how > > > do we know when we have said enough, or too little? > > > I wish I knew. > > > > In the world of debate, words are the essence of the discipline. > > > That is, if the participants thereof consider debate a discipline. > > > For most, there are rules of debate. Conditions of participation both > > > spoken and non. It may vary from table to table, mug to mug, pulpit > > > to pulpit, yet for most, prudence and responsibility are tantamount to > > > the free exchange of thoughts and ideas, otherwise debate essentially > > > degenerates into debacle that ultimately benefits no one except those > > > who seek to make debate debacle from the very start. Those who > > > proceed as such have learned to be master manipulators of those who > > > see debate as a discipline. A wise teacher from Nazareth once said, > > > those who seek debacle will take what you see as sacred, trample it > > > under their feet, turn and tear you to pieces. > > > Should we then martyr ourselves so that our own words can be > > > heard? In doing so, do we enhance our own cause and that of the > > > divine? Our words are often spoken in haste of our own ego, not > > > giving thought to the snare that our enemies set for us. We often see > > > virtue as a moral imperative, when virtue is often best served by > > > silence, contemplation, and prayer. Sometimes the best act is to > > > leave those who promote debacle and derision to their own devices. If > > > they have no one to hate, no one to attack, no one to manipulate, no > > > one to trample, they ultimately end up with each other. Not so bad. > > > Yes? > > > Resist not evil. > > > > ShuutokuTenteihttp://www.arkofthecovenantyhvh.com/
