History teaches us that we die if we challenge the system
yet many individuals continue to challenge the darkness despite the
danger. Even if it destroys you, you
must hold to truth. Once you see the
truth you cannot comply with the dehumanizing demands of society and bow your
head and obey. You must have the courage
to refuse society’s demands. -Thich Nhat
Hanh
Tich Nhat Hanh wrote
this right after he fled Vietnam in fear of being prosecuted for practicing
Buddhism. Not long after he left, the
Vietnam War broke out. Thây watched as
his country was torn apart and his friends and family lost their homes and
lives. Despite the tragedies that his
people suffered, he refused to call one side right. He loved and felt compassion for all
involved. His stance was not always
accepted and there were moments that he was outcast from both sides. He held to truth through his alienation and
remained convinced that choosing a side would only perpetrate the division and
hatred.
Thây explains how lonely standing in truth can be. We may find ourselves standing between two
groups loving all and yet not accepted by any.
We can learn from Thây in this moment and remember that choosing a side
will only perpetuate the dysfunction that we are fighting so hard to end. The only way to end discrimination is to
accept everybody, that includes those who you feel are in the wrong. It may seem counter intuitive as we want to
fight injustice by opposing those we hold responsible, but injustice can only
be ended in peace. Only with deep
understanding can we get to the root of the problem, and for understanding to
happen we have to sit and look into the heart of our so called enemy.
Walking in the desolate desert
A bear attacks me by surprise.
I simply look him in the eye.
-Vu Tru
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