Conference taveng::bagels

1340.0. "Our moral dilemma and self preservation" by TINNIE::SETHI (Ahhhh (-: an upside down smile from OZ) Fri Jun 11 1993 11:29

    Hi friends,
    
    I would like to share with you a moral dilemma that I feel as an Indian
    I share with you all.  At times it's very hard to reconcile ones
    feelings with what one should do.  I am talking about the them and us
    situation and your foreign ministers vist to India.
    
    Well the discussions centred around better trade and economic links
    etc. it's all very nice and I am happy we have formalised our
    friendship.  Now one discussion that received very little media
    attention was defense and fundamentalist threats from Muslims to the
    security of both nations.
    
    When I think about our sufferings and the pain both of our people have
    gone through, how can we inflict the same sufferings on others.  Well
    it may not be the same as *we* feel we are defending what G-d gave to
    us.  I see the excessive use of force by security personal and some how
    I feel we are bringing ourselves to their level.  On the other hand if
    we don't stand up we may not survive.
    
    Like Isreal, India too is an old and ancient country that has a living
    culture and religion as well as a rich past.  I think many of us may
    feel threatened by forces we do not understand and deep down we want to
    preserve what is after all a part of our lives.
    
    The question comes down to how can we live in peace and harmony with
    others in our region without giving up those thing that are very dear
    to us ?  Our pasts have shown that those who cause suffering G-d has
    his ways of dealing with them, but what about the suffering we cause ?
    Is there such a thing as justifiable suffering ? 
    
    I feel that sometimes force has to be used to defend and protect.  I
    certainly do not believe in occupation of another country because of
    what happened to India and our experiences plus our religious
    tradition.
    
    I have read so much about them and about us without hearing about the
    feelings that are in us all.  The them and us seems like a sickness
    that is destroying humanity and all in the name of G-d !!!  So what do
    you feel about our moral delemma ?
    
    Regards,
    
    Sunil