Battling Calmly: On Conflict & Ethical Engagement

Circles of violence will only cease
if anger is transcended
and we serve higher needs.

Most battles are fought
not with guns or bombs
but between competing beliefs.

Our lust to prove ourselves "right"
can blind us arrogantly
and create moral blight.

Shield yourself from outrage
which poisons of the intellect.

Engage adversaries
with compassion and faith,
noticing they are akin
in many ways.

No one likes a loser
but perhaps how we fight
is more important
than whether or not we win.

Will:	I can't imagine anyone battling calmly. Humans are generally too emotional.
Kasim:	Yeah, calmness is easy in an armchair. What about in a battlefield with bullets flying?
Nadia:	(yawning) We can go through endless intellectual gymnastics. What I deplore, however, is that the author avoids addressing a central question: when is violence warranted?
Wan-Sze:	(with a tinge of sarcasm) Nearly everyone pulling a trigger feels it is "warranted." Yet how can our small brains ever calculate precisely how much violence is warranted at what time?