In the public sphere, I wonder if showing kindness is a signal of weakness?
This question of course assumes that one is inherently strong and the question really is to display it or not. There is a different question, if one is weak, then what is the public signal one ought to give. But the latter question is not one that I am posing.
Further, one could also ask if kindness can only be shown by those who are strong! However, I digress.
Back to the question, 'In the public sphere, is showing kindness a signal of weakness?'
On this Memorial Day in the US, two major thought pieces come to mind in light of this question.
The first is the famous 'Iron Curtain' speech by Winston Churchill in Missouri. In this seminal speech, where he was personally introduced by President Harry Truman, Churchill discusses War and Tyranny in the pre-amble and also Poverty and Privation. He makes a solid case for strength in the face of Soviet expansionist leanings against capitalist and democratic societies. (Let it be noted that while Churchill stood firm, Sartre waffled!)
The second is the 'Containment Strategy' telegram that George Kennan sent laying out the approach the west would take successfully over the next half century.
Both of the above examples are not signaling weakness through kindness, but rather displaying full force morally, physically and militarily.
On the other hand, there are two other examples where kindness is the dominant strategy.
The Truth and Reconciliation commission in South Africa at the end of apartheid, is a great example of how not to extract vengeance against one's on personal and societal oppressor. How does one get an entire society that has just been liberated to set asides centuries long genuine grievance to forge a new society based on democracy?
The second example is one of civil disobedience in the face of a global empire as practiced by Mahatma Gandhi against the British.
In the latter two examples, no one would dream of thinking either Mandela or Gandhi to be weak.
Here are four examples two on the side of strength, two on the side of kindness - all four of which ended up being successful on behalf of freedom, democracy and economic growth.
A senior statesman that I work with closely (many of you know who I am referring to), said the following in answer to my question:
"Kindness is the most powerful force of all in or out of politics. Both Kennan and Churchill missed that after the Second World War the forceful colonial domination of indigenous people was coming to an end. It was much more likely that those indigenous people would listen to the (very bad) advice of the Soviet Union who had openly argued for their liberation (so they could dominate them instead) than to those countries like the U.S. who had not."
My Dad narrated the following parable at our dinner table when we were kids.
A mouse came up to a Lion and challenged him to a fight.
The Lion declined.
The mouse asked: so.... you afraid of me?
The Lion said: no. I don't think I want to fight you.
The mouse said: don't take pity on me. Why don't you want to fight?
The Lion replied: because no matter what the outcome, the story will be 'Mouse takes on Lion in a Fight'
That story has stuck with me ever since I was a kid!
Net-net it seems to me that the point that we need to be strong is not in question. And that in the public sphere we ought to be perceived as strong is also not in question.
But what we say and how we act should perhaps be with kindness.
This question of course assumes that one is inherently strong and the question really is to display it or not. There is a different question, if one is weak, then what is the public signal one ought to give. But the latter question is not one that I am posing.
Further, one could also ask if kindness can only be shown by those who are strong! However, I digress.
Back to the question, 'In the public sphere, is showing kindness a signal of weakness?'
On this Memorial Day in the US, two major thought pieces come to mind in light of this question.
 |
| George Kennan |
Both of the above examples are not signaling weakness through kindness, but rather displaying full force morally, physically and militarily.
On the other hand, there are two other examples where kindness is the dominant strategy.
The second example is one of civil disobedience in the face of a global empire as practiced by Mahatma Gandhi against the British.
Here are four examples two on the side of strength, two on the side of kindness - all four of which ended up being successful on behalf of freedom, democracy and economic growth.
A senior statesman that I work with closely (many of you know who I am referring to), said the following in answer to my question:
"Kindness is the most powerful force of all in or out of politics. Both Kennan and Churchill missed that after the Second World War the forceful colonial domination of indigenous people was coming to an end. It was much more likely that those indigenous people would listen to the (very bad) advice of the Soviet Union who had openly argued for their liberation (so they could dominate them instead) than to those countries like the U.S. who had not."
My Dad narrated the following parable at our dinner table when we were kids.
A mouse came up to a Lion and challenged him to a fight.
The Lion declined.
The mouse asked: so.... you afraid of me?
The Lion said: no. I don't think I want to fight you.
The mouse said: don't take pity on me. Why don't you want to fight?
The Lion replied: because no matter what the outcome, the story will be 'Mouse takes on Lion in a Fight'
That story has stuck with me ever since I was a kid!
Net-net it seems to me that the point that we need to be strong is not in question. And that in the public sphere we ought to be perceived as strong is also not in question.
But what we say and how we act should perhaps be with kindness.
1 comment:
I have a different take on 'kindness'. Kindness can mean different things under different circumstances. For example, there can be kindness towards weaker section of people, animals and those affected by calamities. These type of kindness are not what you are referring to. It is 'kindness' towards one perhaps is aimed at a defeated person or an opponent you have defeated in a verbal encounter. In these cases, kindness has to be shown in a very careful manner. Because, as Churchill has done, it could be a display of arrogance rather than compassion. In Case of Gandhi and Mandela, they are perhaps two of the most sophisticated operators. Their kindness was intricately woven with toughness against their opponents. In my opinion, showing kindness under any circumstances can not be a sign of weakness. At best it can be appearing as condescending towards the opponent.
Post a Comment