What some of my students are saying.lilgabbymacMay 17 2011, 16:01:29 UTC
These are some deep and thought provoking questions! The answer to all of these would be no. I would not cut or hurt anyone to get what I needed to survive. To hurt others to get what I want is why I train in martial arts. It reminds me not to do it. With great power comes *great responsibility not only to yourself but to others. What separates us from animals is our humanity. And our humanity and the way we act and carry ourselves is contagious. Be kind and you will breed kindness. Be evil and mean and you will breed meaness. Martial arts is about character development and being able to find alternative solutions to your prolems. Life is not worth living if we come down to living like animals and killing and pillaging and raping and maiming each other just to survive. I'd rather commit sepaku first. This is where I stand on this. I would love to hear other people response to this ~UchiDeshi~
*No on all three. It bothers me when other people do things like that to me (cut in line and/or get pushy), so I'd never intentionally do it to someone else.
#1 - Maybe I'm cheating here, but I always find other ways of getting things cheap (craigslist, amazon, having a friend that works in electronics departments or knows how to build the right equipment). Additionally, there's no need to become violent over something as foolish as an electronic - even if it is for school. While I don't think any of my friends would become violent over something like an electronic, I do know some of them wouldn't think twice if they could cut in line and not get caught.
#2 - I don't know if I'd be able to counter this one like the electronics, but I would wait my turn in line for sure. I've helped in food pantries many times before and seen how even the most hungry and impoverished people can have manners - why shouldn't the rest of the community when we all join them? In this case, I don't think any of my friends would get violent or cut in line.
#3 - With buildings and structures and society the way it is now, I'm sure if there are enough supplies for a family/group of people to stay living in a house, there are probably more resources nearby. I'm not sure I'd interact with the people in that kind of a situation and I certainly wouldn't be willing to take from them (morals first, the potentially lethal home security second ), but I'd be willing to forage/pilliage other local areas that aren't being actively used.
#4 - I do honestly believe I have a small number of friends that I could trust no matter what - even in a situation which brings it to "me or you"... I don't think I'd be able to say "me" either, so it may end up being both of us... but I do believe I have some that would also say we go together. Who I am is reflected by what I do. I don't think I'd still be "me" if I did something like that - I'd still be dead, just in a different way. So yes, humanity can superceed survival. ~ptessier~
*Scenario # 1 Deals with a matter of convenience, in a civilized society so I would answer no, I would not cheat or steal or use unnecessary force towards material gain.
Scenario # 2 and #3 Deal with the matters of survival at a most basic level, and directly impact self and family. Of course you would strive to maintain your humanity; after all we were raised in a civilized society. But in the end when society breaks down and civilization is a memory, you must do whatever is necessary to insure the survival of your family. I can’t believe anyone who says that they would stand by and watch their children and loved ones starve to death when it was within their means to provide them with food no matter what the personal cost (ie.. forfeiting their own humanity in the process.)
I trust my family, to me family goes beyond blood ties, they are those in my life who I love and cherish, a loose Clan of like minded individuals.
If no one survives “Humanity” is just a word.
What does this have to do with Martial Arts? Miyamoto Musashi was a famous Martial Artist he most likely followed the Shinto teachings and he was a cold blooded killer bent on fame and fortune. I believe many people confuse Martial Arts with Buddhist teachings and attempt to combine eastern philosophy with karate.
~UchiDeshi~
*No on all three. It bothers me when other people do things like that to me (cut in line and/or get pushy), so I'd never intentionally do it to someone else.
#1 - Maybe I'm cheating here, but I always find other ways of getting things cheap (craigslist, amazon, having a friend that works in electronics departments or knows how to build the right equipment). Additionally, there's no need to become violent over something as foolish as an electronic - even if it is for school.
While I don't think any of my friends would become violent over something like an electronic, I do know some of them wouldn't think twice if they could cut in line and not get caught.
#2 - I don't know if I'd be able to counter this one like the electronics, but I would wait my turn in line for sure. I've helped in food pantries many times before and seen how even the most hungry and impoverished people can have manners - why shouldn't the rest of the community when we all join them?
In this case, I don't think any of my friends would get violent or cut in line.
#3 - With buildings and structures and society the way it is now, I'm sure if there are enough supplies for a family/group of people to stay living in a house, there are probably more resources nearby. I'm not sure I'd interact with the people in that kind of a situation and I certainly wouldn't be willing to take from them (morals first, the potentially lethal home security second ), but I'd be willing to forage/pilliage other local areas that aren't being actively used.
#4 - I do honestly believe I have a small number of friends that I could trust no matter what - even in a situation which brings it to "me or you"... I don't think I'd be able to say "me" either, so it may end up being both of us... but I do believe I have some that would also say we go together.
Who I am is reflected by what I do. I don't think I'd still be "me" if I did something like that - I'd still be dead, just in a different way. So yes, humanity can superceed survival.
~ptessier~
*Scenario # 1 Deals with a matter of convenience, in a civilized society so I would answer no, I would not cheat or steal or use unnecessary force towards material gain.
Scenario # 2 and #3 Deal with the matters of survival at a most basic level, and directly impact self and family. Of course you would strive to maintain your humanity; after all we were raised in a civilized society. But in the end when society breaks down and civilization is a memory, you must do whatever is necessary to insure the survival of your family. I can’t believe anyone who says that they would stand by and watch their children and loved ones starve to death when it was within their means to provide them with food no matter what the personal cost (ie.. forfeiting their own humanity in the process.)
I trust my family, to me family goes beyond blood ties, they are those in my life who I love and cherish, a loose Clan of like minded individuals.
If no one survives “Humanity” is just a word.
What does this have to do with Martial Arts? Miyamoto Musashi was a famous Martial Artist he most likely followed the Shinto teachings and he was a cold blooded killer bent on fame and fortune. I believe many people confuse Martial Arts with Buddhist teachings and attempt to combine eastern philosophy with karate.
Larry
Reply
Leave a comment