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Well Said!
I totally agree with your post, and the comment from Jimmy! 
posted by
Mia890
on June 7, 2013 at 10:38 AM
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Re: JimmyA,
I don't always agree with your stance on things, but on this, I do. You have to communicate with people in their own language. Being staunchly 'civil' could mean being righteously over-run by the babaric. It is ineffective to attempt to communicate with staunch barbarians in the language of the civil, whether they are violent teenage kids, or the terrorists of some extreme belief system.
Such barbarians are not just ignorant, working from their narrow, self-centered worldview, they are also angry and vengeful. They are, in their own judgement, absolutely right, and therefore have the right to do as they see fit to prove themselves right to the rest of the world. Smiling gently and patiently, and explaining things kindly is not going to calm them or change their outlook.
posted by
Ciel
on June 3, 2013 at 7:41 AM
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The down side to such concepts is that "civility" and "barbarism" are the two extremes, and anyone actually attempting to live their lives "between" them is in for a major disappointment!
I remember reading a tale that not too many people were aware of following the hostage crisis in Iran in 1979. People forget that it wasn't only the American Embassy that was attacked. Foreign dignitaries were taken hostage from almost every embassy. However, when the Russian Embassy was taken over, the Ayatollah was almost immediately sent a telegram from Moscow. His brother-in-law was working at the Iranian Embassy in Russia at the time, and the KGB sliced off one of his ears and sent it to Iran with a message that stated "For every day you keep our people hostage, we will send you another piece of your brother!" The Russians in Iran were released the very next day!
Barbaric? Of course! Uncivilized? Naturally! But did it work? Absolutely!
Regardless of how people feel they should be treated, or how you feel people should be treated, sometimes certain circumstances force people to deviate from what is supposedly considered normal or civil. Separatism may seem wrong in a lot of incidences, but you can't put a lion in with a lamb and expect it to simply "behave!" 
posted by
JimmyA
on June 3, 2013 at 7:25 AM
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Re: Re: respect i totally agree with and love for all people. BUT.....
you put it sooooo well!!
posted by
Kabu
on June 2, 2013 at 5:41 PM
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Re: respect i totally agree with and love for all people. BUT.....
Once again, we are in agreement. Idealism can be as dangerous as any other blinkered vision.
posted by
Ciel
on June 2, 2013 at 5:36 PM
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respect i totally agree with and love for all people. BUT.....
i don't accept that all people with different values and beliefs and social customs can just be thrown together in a country into a city and told to get on with playing nicely together. That sort of idealism begs for trouble.
posted by
Kabu
on June 2, 2013 at 3:52 PM
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