Resolving Conflicts

Daishund Lanier “Attempting to Make a Difference”

We all have problems. We all have enemies in some form or another. No one likes to deal with these things, or these people, but it is a necessary part of life. However, if we don’t approach the situation properly, then we are doomed for failure, which is sad, because we are all, in some form or another, destined for greatness. Our enemies come in many forms. Racism, terrorism, gangs; all forms of enemies. Most deal with at least one type of enemy, while some may even be faced with multiple types of enemies. Please, understand that there are many more enemies than those listed above, such as poverty, social and economic competition. We have so many enemies, and so many battles to fight. The key to success, the strategy to victory lies within how you approach your enemy, and what you intend to do once the enemy has been finally confronted.

James 1:19-20 – 19) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Simply put, getting angry does not work. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, two highly influential shared similar, if not the same goals. While both were killed, one was arguably successful, and the other, arguably not. MLK Jr. set out to accomplish his goals through acts of peace, such as sit-ins and marches and rallies. Malcolm X enacted his goals through the use of violence, acts of revenge in response to the years of oppression and abuse the African-American people had suffered. Once again, both of these men were considered extremely influential, but the credit for the results falls upon the shoulders of Dr. King. This is not because he managed to outlive Malcolm X, but simply because Malcolm X’s tactics did not, and could never, work.

“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate....Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. “ -Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X wished to drive out hatred in America through hatred. Spoken like this, when we stop to look at it for what it really is, it makes absolutely no sense. However, embedded deep within our minds, this is the only logical answer. If someone harms us, then the only thing that makes any sense to most is to harm them back, to eliminate the threat. The enemy attacks, we respond; we annihilate the enemy. We ourselves, now become the enemy to those that would avenge our fallen enemy. We are hated, so therefore, we began to show those that hate us hate, and we increase our hate to destroy the hatred of others, but now that their hatred is destroyed, we are still quite amassed with the hatred we created to destroy the hatred of others, and although anger and bitterness and resentment and prejudice and hatred is easily created, it doesn’t just go

Lanier 2 away because we feel it has served its purpose. Quite contrarily, hatred tends to stick around for absolutely no reason at all. It stays with us for so long, that we no longer remember why we’re angry and why we hate; we only know that we do. Only absolute, unconditional love can destroy hate. Only the state of peace can destroy the land of war. Nothing, but good will towards all men, from all men, can aid our great nation in its pursuit of happiness.

“Afflictive emotions—our jealousy, anger, hatred, fear—can be put to an end. When you realize that these emotions are only temporary, that they always pass on like clouds in the sky, you also realize they can ultimately be abandoned.” -Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama We wish for peace. They wish to be understood. The problem is neither side is talking to the other. Instead, we’re hating, and in many instances, hurting each other. We hold on to these feelings of bitterness and pain, sadly, without cause. My brothers, my sisters, we’re letting history stand between us and every little, wonderful thing we could ever do with our future. We’re not angry because they harmed us. We’re angry because we’ve been taught to be angry. They harm us because that’s what they’ve taught to do. If we could just come together and start over, and realize that yesterday will never change, but today is when we create all the possibilities for tomorrow. If only we’d stop wasting time fighting the wars of our fathers, and decide amongst ourselves that we will be at peace. If only we could do that today; it is impossible to fathom the beauties of tomorrow once we finally rise up and realize that yesterday really doesn’t matter anymore.

Lamentations 3: 22-23 – 22) It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Whether you believe in God or not, we should all take a lesson from these verses. It is only through mercy upon one another, that we have any hope of survival. Without mercy, the world will eventually consume itself, and we will all be destroyed. Let us never fail to have compassion toward one another. Compassion is all we need. Caring for another, reaching out to one another; if each one would reach one, we could all stand together in peace and unity. And every day, let us remember, that yesterday is gone forever. So now I ask of you, to all those who may have hurt you on yesterday, turn to them today, and tell them, “Let’s start over tomorrow.” Tomorrow is a new day, my sisters and brothers; let’s shape it into the beautiful world we all hope for it to be.