To Allen Gibson, concerning handling of power and politics.
Allen,
In your excellent observations about power, there is one thought with
which I cannot entirely agree at this time. You state: "Those who seek to
hold power do not do so for the benefit of others--but only for
themselves."
Let me "type aloud" about this one. Is this statement too broad? Is
there not a person who actually seeks to hold power for the benefit of
many, because of a recognition that the position of power invests good
intentions with potential, and then with positive actions which assist the
many?
I suppose these words partially coincide with a definition of altruism.
Altruism need not be confined to the "less" powerful, need it be? Now
another angle.
In his chapter "The Grand Inquisitor", Dostoyevskii draws the picture of
the shrivelled Spaniard who berates the Christ he has jailed, after His
return to the streets of the city, for offering only spiritual redemption.
Why have you come back, snarls the Inquisitor, when I have been able to
offer bread to the hungry, bread which they have wanted, needed and are so
happy to accept in your name from me?
A man of consummate power provides "bread alone" to the masses, who are
happy. Is there anyone but the author, the Christ, and a few knight-errant
souls adrift in the business world who recognize the double-edged sword of
this caricature's explanation to the returned Christ? I am so excited to
see islands of Heart in the 360 degree view from my own island to the
horizon surrounding this list in learning-org.
"Speak," yells the captor to Christ. But the author, of course, adds
nothing to the gospel sayings. Dostoyevskii was far too religious to
amend them (The Brothers was published in 1880, less than a year before
the author's death at a time when he was deeply God fearing). In
desperation, the Inquisitor opens the cell door and banishes Christ from
Spain.
This stunning insight into Theodicy offers a the seeker some thoughts on
political interaction. A leader with power may manifest his position in
many ways, not all of them self-serving, nor all of them completely
altruistic. There's a range.
This one sentence of yours, Allen, obviously plucked a resonant string in
me, and I am happy to share my voice through this reply.
-- Best regards, Barry Mallis bmallis@markem.com