Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: Titanscape on 16/09/2011 00:07:35
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What do you think of the quality of meekness?
Is it like weakness? Is it of some use? Is it important?
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"The meek shall inherit the Earth". So the Bible says.............
Yeah!!! And the poor shall inherit the Bank.......... I think not!
The game of life is the survival of the fittest, or, as in today's culture, the richest.
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What about the diplomatic side of things? Blair and Bush's actions are turning out too costly. France is looking the wiser now.
The meek would seem to be sheep to the slaughter sometimes. But I don't think being meek means one must not use force at times, just not as a way of life. If need be one could even consider Bismark's foresight in proactive warfare.
The German generals of WW1 were known to talk a lot about the survival of the fittest.
Also, on another note, meekness is better than ambition and stiff discipline in a father I would say.
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Seems to me that we all could do with nurturing such concepts. As we continue to gain knowledge as a species so we seem to decline in humanity.
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I think it's a very poorly defined concept.
"Meekness" as the antithesis of arrogance is undoubtedly a good thing, both for the individual and for those around him/her. Where what it's describing is the wisdom to understand that you don't have all the answers and that you and your friends don't inevitably have Right on your side just because you (like everyone else) are the hero of your own personal drama, I think it's a very important and widely under-rated virtue (and one of my own weak points).
Conversely, where it's just another word for a cowed acceptance of whatever other people throw at you, it can be a bar to making the world a better place. There's a time and a place for turning the other cheek, but equally sometimes one has to
There's a rather cliched* saying (but of course cliches are often cliches for a good reason) about needing the strength to change the things that can be changed, the patience to endure the things that can't, and the wisdom to know the difference.. actually I've an idea it might be a prayer from somewhere or other, but then there are lots of prayers that (despite my general attitude to religion in general and organised religion in particular.. lets say I'm not generally in favour...) have extremely sensible things to say about living a useful life in the here-and-now.
* not sure how to make this editor put an acute accent on that e or on subsequent ones, you'll have to imagine it..
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not sure how to make this editor put an acute accent on that e
You copy/paste it from Wikipedia, like this cliché [;D]