Sunday, April 5, 2009

Being George Will IV

During the Roundtable on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, George Will makes the point that "conflict is natural" to explain the unrest in the world in opposition to the emphasis on the "community of nations." "Behind the phrase 'community of nations,'" said Will, "is the old planned liberal axiom that harmony is natural; it's not."

There are a great many things that are natural things that need training or would otherwise be a mess. Relieving oneself is most natural. But should we not potty train children? Emotions are also natural. Should we simply be allowed to vent and rant whenever and wherever we are so pleased? Whether diplomacy is a "planned liberal axiom or not," I'm all for it.

Because diplomacy has failed in the past, should we stop trying? Just imagine what natural responses we would have to a host of natural impetuses if we failed to keep trying. While conflict may be natural, diplomacy may be divine. I also cannot help but to wonder what the world would be like if women and mothers were more in global leadership. Men tend to seek conflict and women tend to pursue peace. Men tend to war while women tend to prefer diplomacy. We need one another in order to solve global conflicts.

4 comments:

allen said...

During the Roundtable on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, George Will makes the point that "conflict is natural" to explain the unrest in the world in opposition to the emphasis on the "community of nations." "Behind the phrase 'community of nations,'" said Will, "is the old planned liberal axiom that harmony is natural; it's not."

This is rediculus - Harmony AND conflict are natural.

wmmbb said...

The non-violent nature of females is an inaccurate as the proposition that males are inherently violent. We should not confuse intent with expression.

Conflict, despite what the sage says ( or is he simply a scribe?), does not naturally descend into violence. To be aware of an alternative is to be aware of choice.

How did we become conditioned to think that conflict and violence are inevitable?

Judith Ellis said...

Allen - I agree. Harmony and conflict are natural. There is also something to be said for control and discipline, not to mention the intention of peace.

Judith Ellis said...

Wmmbb - I would agree that men and women are basically the same; we are all human. Your opening comment made me think of the age old nature vs. nurture argument. Historically, around the world even in indigenous populations, men are nurtured differently than women after a certain age and it can be asserted that this is typically what makes them more likely to lean towards conflict and aggression.

There is also still science to consider. The testosterone vs. estrogen thing is also probably relative here. There is plenty science out there that points to this difference as significant. There may be other reasons to consider here also. Just watching my very young nieces and nephews interact is a scientific study in itself. So, your opening has some truth for me. But there are also other things to consider for sure.