Replying to LO29969 --
Dear Organlearners,
Andrew Campbell < ACampnona@aol.com > writes:
>These words are from 1929 by the author [Weeper} of the
>words above in a prefatory note; " War is waged by men;
>not by beasts, or by gods. It is a peculiarly human activity.
>To call it a crime against humanity is to miss at least half its
>significance; it is also the punishment of a crime. That raises
>a moral question, the kind of problem with which the present
>age is disinclined to deal. Perhaps some future atempt to
>provide a solution for it may prove to be even more
>astonishing than the last."
Greetings dear Andrew,
I ask myself the following question:-
What has the topic "Peace and War" have to do with the LO (Learning
Organisation)?
One possibility is that a LO ought to give a clear account of its Systems
Thinking on peace and war.
Most religions of the world do give a clear account on it. For example:
CHRISTIANITY:-
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children
of God."
BUDDHISM:-
"There is no happiness greater than peace."
JUDAISM:-
"When a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies
be at peace with him."
ISLAM:-
"God will guide men to peace. If they will heed Him, He will lead them
from the darkness of war to the light of peace."
TAOISM:-
"The wise esteem peace and quiet above all else."
HINDUISM:-
"Without meditation, where is peace? Without peace, where is
happiness?"
CONFUCIANISM:-
"Seek to be in harmony with all your neighbors...live in peace with
your brethren."
SHINTO:-
"Let the earth be free from trouble and men live at peace under the
protection of the Divine."
BAHA'I:-
"War is death while peace is life."
SIKHISM:-
"Only in the Name of the Lord do we find our peace."
JAINISM:-
"All men should live in peace with their fellows. This is the Lord's
desire."
ZOROASTRIANISM:-
"I will sacrifice to peace, whose breath is friendly."
Does this mean that the LO becomes a religious organisation when it tells
why it seeks peace and life going with it rather than war and death going
with it? No, not at all. Religious organisations follow certain revealed
principles by which they make sure that peace and happiness are prefered
rather than war and tragedy. The most important principle among them all
is that God wants love rather than hate to guide the minds, hearts and
souls of humans. A LO may also adhere to love as its guiding principle.
However, whenever i have to rely on a religious principle, i always seek
its counterpart in nature to make sure what it involves. The reason is
that i firmly believe that God is made known twofold:- through devine
revelation to prophets and through God's creation to learners. So is there
a principal in nature complementary to the priciple of love?
I think there is such a principle. Here is a bit of my own Systems
Thinking. Six years ago i wrote the essay
"Commutation in the LO#2 LO12893"
< http://world.std.com/~lo/97.03/0162.html >
Commutation and love go hand in hand which is symbolised by gifts.
Commutation is the way how smaller or less complex parts become connected
to a larger or more complex whole. For example, every chemical compound,
even the complex macromolecules of biochemistry, depend on commutation for
their structure and function. How i wish i could teach you fellow learners
in person with real examples how this commutation actually works!
Let us go to a higher level in complexity and think of our bodies or that
of other warm blooded animals. Our bodies have a morphology (structure,
"being") and phsyiology (function, "becoming"). Morphologically it
consists of many organs and phsyiologically they each has to perform
certain tasks. However, complex as they are, they also have to commute
with each other through minor substances like hormones and enzymes to
become synchronised into one whole, healthy, living body.
Blood is the most important commuter in the body since it is the vehicle
for transporting most substances in the body. But what has it to do with
peace and war? In peace blood is considered precious so as to live in
harmony, but in war blood of even innocent victims is shed so as to
procure victory! Can an organisation which is indifferent to the shedding
of blood be a LO? I think not.
Think of the words of Jesus who have set the example to humankind:
Matthew 5: 38,39,43-45.
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil. but
whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the
other also. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which
is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
Jesus did not shed a drop of blood of anybody else. Yet his own blood was
shed for those who believe in him as the ultimate sacrifice of God so as
to live in peace with God, fellow humans and nature.
Andrew, i have found a very thoughtful contemplation on peace and
war on the web. It is "Peace War" at
< http://www.cob-net.org/peace.htm >
It begins with a striking picture which will appeal to your artist's eyes.
Fellow learners, be forwarned -- it is of a religious nature. Another
essay of a non-religious nature, "Symbolized Conditions Of Love", can
be found at
< http://www.struggleforsurvival.com/book/symbol.htm >
By the way, thinking of blood metaphorically, what is the life giving
blood of any LO? The answer is in an interesting interview with Peter
Senge reported at
< http://www.epic.co.uk/news_features/latest_features/tech_senge.htm >
With care and best wishes,
--At de Lange <amdelange@postino.up.ac.za> Snailmail: A M de Lange Gold Fields Computer Centre Faculty of Science - University of Pretoria Pretoria 0001 - Rep of South Africa
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