Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to re: Footnote -- Jewish boycott of German goods

Pacifism, aggression and forgiveness
Mary Anne — (archived)

Imagine this: Had the victorious Allies approached the negotiating table after World War I in the spirit of laying aside the sabre instead of beating Germany with its pommel, what might have been the results, world-wide?

The Great Depression that struck the world in 1929 was very bad in western Europe, and worse in the United States, but was devastating to Germany and its newborn republic. And why? Because of the severe economic punishment inflicted upon Germany in revenge for the First World War.

Had the Allies been guided by the principles of pacifism in their negotiations, Germany might have had the resources needed to temper the Depression, and their republic might have survived. As it was, the actions of the Allies destroyed the position of the people who would most likely have been able to discourage an aggressive response by Germans to the economic hardships of the times.

Pacifism does not encourage aggression. Pacifism encourages forgiveness. Pacifists are willing to accept sacrifice as a part of their commitment to forgiveness, in the teach-by-example mode. Genuine pacifists make sure that that sacrifice is offered and shared by them personally. This is why weekend pacifists are generally not the real thing.

Chamberlain was not practicing pacifism, but a version of realpolitick known to us since the days of Cain: "I am not my brother's keeper." Pacifists don't turn their backs on their neighbors, but they don't seek to hurt the aggressors. They seek to put themselves between the would-be aggressor and the potential victim. It's a difficult thing to do, which is why we don't witness it done, for real, very often.

Regards--
Mary Anne

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