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Power and Powerlessness – Conflict and Peace

In her speech, Come September, Arundhati Roy, says "The theme of much of what I write, fiction as well as non-fiction, ... is the relationship between power and powerlessness, and the endless circular conflict they are engaged in.." A little further on she says "I believe that the accumulation of vast unfettered power by a state or a country, a corporation or an institution or even an individual a spouse, a friend, a sibling - regardless of ideology results in excesses..."

This is a theme which runs deep within my own life and thoughts. I look out at the world on the large scale and what is played out there is also played out in the small scale, in interactions between two individuals behind closed doors or in a conversation. It is about one side having power over the other, the predatory dance of power and powerlessness. It is about one person who is unable to stand in their own power, who is nursing a deep insecurity about themselves and their worth, who can only raise themselves up by standing on someone else.

Whether it is a physical act with a steel toe capped boot, whether it is the threat of a beating, whether it is belittling words and names, whether it is an army marched in to oppress one set of people so that another set can live more freely, whether it is bombs and ammunition - I believe that the motivating energy behind all these acts is the quest for power as opposed to the sharing of empowerment.

If I want to see peace, real peace, in my lifetime then I must challenge myself to be peace. To walk my talk. I must look at the lessons of history, war and conflict and try to see a way through. Conflict, says Thomas F Crum, is neither good nor bad, it just is. It happens when one person's needs cross the path of another person's needs, or when one country's needs brush up against what is good for another, different country.

The challenge does not need to be about who wins the argument over wallpaper, or who wins the war over oil reserves - the challenge could be about finding creative ways to ensure everyone is heard, to find a compromise that honours and includes as many people as possible.

The block seems so often to arise around the ability to hear, see and accept difference. The insecurity seems to drive the fight for control when a person feels threatened by difference. The block becomes a wall, a defense mechanism, and the method of defense is attack - words, fists, bombs, oppression of the other.

When I disagree with someone, or when they belittle my ideas - is my best response to call them names? Return the sarcasm? Or shout? I think not - I think my best response is to look for an opening, a way in - to try to find the common ground so that they can hear me and I them. I see so much disrespectful communication between individuals and I see that often in standing up for themselves, people simply return the behaviour. They step out of the light and give as good as they get, instead of looking for a disarmament and a more creative and constructive response.

Peace begins with the individual, only when people can see their own behaviour towards others more clearly can they address it. One person at a time, inch by inch. When we treat those standing next to us with respect and allow them their dignity, then we can grow the seeds into the real disarmament of weapons and nations.

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Tags: arundhati roy, come september, controlling people, interactions, peace, politics

Posted on February 13, 2007 in Opinionated, Thoughtful, Wordy.

One Response to “Power and Powerlessness – Conflict and Peace”

tammy vitale says:

February 13, 2007 at 3:58 pm

I want to say something wise to add to this but I think you cover it all when you say each of us must be peace first before peace will find its way into the larger realm. Sometimes, though, I do think that the Universe moves like a glacier. I wish I were more encouraged by a majority of folks in the US finally “getting it” about the war – what was so clear to me at the very start. Why did we have to relearn answers to questions that had been asked and answered in my own lifetime – nevermind historically. And all of that gets back to power – it isn’t about truth and justice, it’s about who gets all the cookies. (as we used to say in community-based organizing: follow the money and you’ll know where the power is and is moving)