"It has been usual for men to think and to say, "Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor!" But there is amongst an increasing few a tendency to reverse this judgment and to say, "One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves."
The truth is that oppressor and slaves are cooperators in ignorance, and, while seeming to afflict each other, are in reality, afflicting themselves."
- James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
I love this piece. It makes me think of a fish jumping out of the water tail first. What an interesting sight that would make! Actually, it makes me think about the car business which I have been involved in for over 40 years in one way or another. Specifically, it makes me think of salespeople and the big bad sales manager, especially the one that likes to "keep them under his thumb" to always have control. I call them the blowhards.
The truth is, the sales manager has only the power the salespeople give them. Hitler had only the power that the people gave him (another blowhard. . .). Yet we relish in persecuting the oppressor and assigning blame. The fish really does jump out of the water tail first, doesn't it? Take away the followers, the blowhards have nothing at all.
It's hard to accept the possibility that the oppressed are a co-creator of the situation, but when the oppressor and the oppressed are all in the same room, they all breathe the same air and share the same space. . .
A better way: Accept the notion that you are completely responsible for your situation. After accepting this, it is easier to become grateful for the knowledge and then you get to make better, more powerful decisions that will change your results. No struggle, instead: empowerment.
"A perfect knowledge perceives the action of law in the weakness of the oppressed and the misapplied power of the oppressor. A perfect love, seeing the suffering which both states entail, condemns neither; perfect compassion embraces both oppressor and oppressed."
- James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
Relax In Your Awesome Day!
Spread Some Joy Today--Give Everyone You Meet Some Love!
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