tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post1570033728043040646..comments2023-11-05T04:23:05.050-08:00Comments on Finding My Way Home: Is Silence Complicity?thailandchanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171731740204067889noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-80736949686754842852008-07-25T06:58:00.000-07:002008-07-25T06:58:00.000-07:00What a provocative question my friend,I think sile...What a provocative question my friend,<BR/><BR/>I think silence can be complicity.... I remember those words "Evil prospers when the good do nothing"...<BR/><BR/>I think defending the absent is one of the most beautiful ways of breaking cycles of hatred...<BR/><BR/>Having said that...I dont think its black and white..there are situations where it might bring more peace to stay silent... <BR/><BR/>I guess the art is knowing when to speak and when to stay silent.<BR/><BR/>Love and peace, MMaithrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17039947095595430108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-85373888327032955982008-07-24T19:24:00.000-07:002008-07-24T19:24:00.000-07:00i don't think it's either/or, this topic. i think...i don't think it's either/or, this topic. i think sometimes people create their own BS and others are not compelled to involve themselves in it. <BR/><BR/>and sometimes it's more dangerous, sitting by and watching others suffer and not doing anything, like we do every day by our actions in allowing others to suffer from poverty, homelessness, etc. what about that silence?Girlplustwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056576921114387218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-89779660999492742602008-07-24T16:58:00.000-07:002008-07-24T16:58:00.000-07:00i guess i think it depends on how high the stakes ...i guess i think it depends on how high the stakes are. in other words, is there potential for a person or people to be harmed?<BR/><BR/>if so, yes.Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05602868040771218507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-30466302410353199652008-07-24T14:39:00.000-07:002008-07-24T14:39:00.000-07:00No, silence is not complicity. Sometimes it's jus...No, silence is not complicity. Sometimes it's just the best we can do right then. Sometimes it's smart.<BR/><BR/>But the doesn't mean it's not okay to speak up.menohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-74429090621221360312008-07-24T13:21:00.000-07:002008-07-24T13:21:00.000-07:00It's interesting. I think it goes back to the Sai...It's interesting. I think it goes back to the Sai Baba quotation again. I find that most racial remarks come from ignorance, often with hatred breeding that ignorance. If there will only be confrontation, I will walk from the conversation or do as you did. If I believe the person just doesn't understand what they are saying, then I will be gentler and explain that the expression is hurtful and harmful. If the person is clearly not going to be interested in change or is violent, I would usually just walk away.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-88863341259834081892008-07-24T13:14:00.000-07:002008-07-24T13:14:00.000-07:00I have a hard time being confrontational in these ...I have a hard time being confrontational in these situations. If someone were being verbally attacked in my presence, it would be different but in these situations, though I may not agree with what's being said, I don't know if I'd have the strength to put myself out on the line and say something or do something about it. Even if I really really wanted to... I'm weak in this area.Amy Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06303953793008491241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-39691818337815537052008-07-24T10:23:00.000-07:002008-07-24T10:23:00.000-07:00I guess you already know what I think, but I think...I guess you already know what I think, but I think the closer I am to the person, the more likely I would be to speak to them about whatever they said. But I don't know that I would choose to do it *at that time*.<BR/><BR/>It is a tough one.QThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15544956727530046973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-19784934152827767252008-07-24T09:30:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:30:00.000-07:00I wondered about the same issue in a recent post i...I wondered about the same issue in a recent post in which a bank teller made a remark about gay people. It offended my sensibilities but I said nothing on that occasion because of the circumstances and also the fact that the woman doesn't really impact my life meaningfully.<BR/><BR/>I think it's a matter of choosing our battles, and also how egregious the remark is. In a public forum, there is always the option to leave, which makes a clear statement, too.heartinsanfranciscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535397382991383931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-34836053989493181582008-07-24T09:16:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:16:00.000-07:00Just to clarify, what this woman was dealing with ...Just to clarify, what this woman was dealing with was not those gray areas of right or wrong. It was overt racism and the way in which we might make one feel less worthy or accepted as a human based on race or perhaps sexual orientation or even religion. Her message was clearly that we all deserve to be treated with a certain amount of respect and dignity simply because we are human. She plead for tolerance and respect for our beautiful diversity as humans.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08423696800295940382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-13614614790960891422008-07-24T09:10:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:10:00.000-07:00Well, you picked another very interesting one. Th...Well, you picked another very interesting one. There is actually an American woman who has done a lot of work in schools and universities on just this topic. (sorry, but I can't remember her name at the moment). I had the opportunity to observe how she creates a situation in the classroom so that those of us who aren't exposed to racism on a regular basis experience it. She also demonstrates how in these situations most people say nothing and allow the injustice to continue. It raised a lot of questions. One could understand very easily how, for example, a situation like Nazi Germany could happens. When situations progress to a certain point, it then becomes too late or dangerous to make your stand without you yourself then being targeted. She made a really good point that if we see an injustice, and do nothing, even if we don't agree with it, we are enabling an evil to continue. It's not that there is more evil in the world than good, it's just that it is more active and those with lots of good tend to be more complacent and not want to get involved in others business. But she argued that we have to stand up and say something if we want some of these things to change. We will give power and courage to others who see injustices to do the same. Now I've gone on for quite a bit, but to see her in action was incredible. Everyone left her class changed and I guarantee that they will never forget her. Of course I realize that there are situations where we may not speak up, but I have kept this in mind ever since. Good post.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08423696800295940382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-90794307322862655272008-07-24T09:09:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:09:00.000-07:00Good question. I think that sometimes silence is m...Good question. I think that sometimes silence is more powerful than words, and when that silence is paired with the right actions, there might not even be a point to words. <BR/><BR/>I think what you do with the silence is more important that the silence itself.JW Moxiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16865232770753428076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-7866931628015910642008-07-24T09:08:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:08:00.000-07:00I don't think silence necessarily indicates compli...I don't think silence necessarily indicates complicity, but I think it can be and often is perceived as such.<BR/><BR/>There are times it is dangerous to speak your mind, and as a pagan in a sea of Judeo-Christian sects, I am always mindful of the potential haters around me. We have a constitutional right to freedom of speech and religion in this country, but it doesn't keep folks from burning crosses in the yards of others (which just happened here recently). I do what I can to promote tolerance and acceptance, but I have to bear in mind that a witch hunt is always potentially on the horizon.Sometimes silence is how you live to do your work another day.we_be_toyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12100712745473031460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-44160979836468841882008-07-24T07:51:00.000-07:002008-07-24T07:51:00.000-07:00I was actually thinking about this very topic a lo...I was actually thinking about this very topic a lot last night. In fact it was an idea for a post I'm trying to write by the weekend :)lol.Defiantmusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03662821362051301388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-33076654035986231782008-07-24T07:21:00.000-07:002008-07-24T07:21:00.000-07:00I probably wouldn't say anything at the time. Unl...I probably wouldn't say anything at the time. Unless it was something like "Wow, that's fascinating. Why do you think people have such negative views of group X?".<BR/><BR/>But I probably also would avoid that person/those people in the future.niobehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685766216611639434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-77659922358791730942008-07-24T04:19:00.000-07:002008-07-24T04:19:00.000-07:00I think your question "is it right for others to a...I think your question "is it right for others to assume..." gets to the heart of this gray area.<BR/><BR/>It's not right, but some will. Most likely those who are less accepting in the first place.<BR/><BR/>No matter how steadfast we are, we can't live our lives correcting others. Geez, how arrogant.<BR/><BR/>Live your own lives, speak your own truths, set an example and let your light be a beacon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34955137.post-69008340866174531492008-07-24T03:18:00.000-07:002008-07-24T03:18:00.000-07:00I don't believe that Silence is Complicity...need ...I don't believe that Silence is Complicity...need I say more?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com