A Great Man.

[bajahyena]

In honor of Liu Xiaobo's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, I thought I'd post a small snippet from his final statement on Dec. 23, 2009 before being jailed for 11yrs.

"For hatred is corrosive of a person’s wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation’s spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society’s tolerance and humanity, and block a nation’s progress to freedom and democracy. I hope therefore to be able to transcend my personal vicissitudes in understanding the development of the state and changes in society, to counter the hostility of the regime with the best of intentions, and defuse hate with love."

This is why the partisanship seen in politics over the last 10yrs has eroded away our country, our understanding of one another, and our respect for "the other side". I hope our politicians can learn something from a man who continues to sacrifice everything for his county's future.

Comments

[direwolf23.livejournal.com]

Suck it, China.

[bosn.livejournal.com]

I hope our politicians can learn something from a man who continues to sacrifice everything for his county's future.

Bahahahahahahhahahaha!!!!!!

Politics in this country have went from bi-polar to schizophrenic in a matter of 2 years. and it will get worse when all these dumb bastards that can vote reach the age of retirement.... with no retirement, and no government to take care of them. We are talking more than one third working slobs that have NOTHING saved away and no home of doing so.

Thats hats great being a socialist, you dont have to vote my party into office, it happens out of desperation.

[baja-hyena.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't have great hope. I've learned in history that great change doesn't come without great upheaval and it's coming in the next 10-15yrs.

[overbear.livejournal.com]

Hopefully when that upheaval comes, it comes in the form of the abolishment of social security, universal health care, and big goverment. This country needs to get back to what our founders ment it to be...Freedom, and small goverment.

[baja-hyena.livejournal.com]

I'm with you there. Stay out of my bedroom...out of my wallet, fight international wars, keep the boarders secured...the states will deal with the rest. ;)

[bosn.livejournal.com]

sorry my keyboard sucks, home = Hope hats = whats

[overbear.livejournal.com]

I diagree with some of his words, I do not think that "hate" blocks a nations progress, as it can be a healthy and useful tool for the advancement of technology and science (as example WW2, we did NOT have respect or "love" for the other side, yet we managed to progress rapidly)

The other problem with his view, is that "best intentions" and "love" just don't work in the modern world. The whole "turn the other cheek" thing just gets you hit a second time. The world has become such that the "peace, love, and joy" of the 60's mentality is no longer a valid or logical way to address an agressive stance.

Considering they gave that numbnuts Gore a NPP, I pretty much have no respect for it anymore. The meaning it was ment with, has died, its become a political tool.

[baja-hyena.livejournal.com]

I think you missed a good deal of the point. He is talking about what hate does to one's reason and morals and sets up an "Us against Them" mentality where "winning" is more important than doing what is right. It leads to restrictive, black and white thinking and can rot a country from the inside. He said nothing about turning the other cheek but striking back doesn't always mean the most effective means is a gun. Thinking a gun is the only weapon you have is exactly the lack of wisdom he speaks of.

[overbear.livejournal.com]

Again, we look back at history and the "us against them" stance is what helped us progress as far as we have.

I also disagree that "black or white" thinking is a bad thing. It leads to a direct and final desision, one that does not waffle and flex under other peoples ideas of what is right/wrong/good/bad.

That is what it comes down to, what is best for me, may not be best for you. How do we resolve that view, one of three ways...

1)We fight, to the victor goes the spoils
2)We talk things out, and get no where in the end
3)one of us caves in and lets the other side have its way

[baja-hyena.livejournal.com]

I should explain my decision making process perhaps. In the end, every decision is emotional. However, you use logic and exploration to narrow the final choices.

Black and white thinking negates the exploration so vital in narrowing choices to the best choices. Your welcome to disagree of course. Of course we shouldn't consider what is another person's idea of right/wrong/good/bad. We should only entertain our own perception and follow that to the conclusion of our might.

In history, the victor writes the history. However, what happens when we are no longer the strongest? Will you submit to the Chinese when they are the victors?

[overbear.livejournal.com]

In that day, I will be dead for I took option 1 and did not come out on top...so it will not matter what is written by the winner.

[fuskerz.livejournal.com]

It's so great that Chinese government is so progressive! <3

The world honors one of their citizens, and they show their respect by keeping him in jail and threatening relations with Norway.

[baja-hyena.livejournal.com]

Of course they aren't progressive and they are not required to show their respect. They have a different view that doesn't match a great deal of the civilized world's and that is what sets them apart. This illuminates their nature and makes the world gasp at their inability to cope with a single dissident. It shows their weakness and our strength in that we honor another's vision instead of being fearful of it.