Banality and Compassion

Apr 9th, 2008, in Opinion, by Guest Writer

View the original article here.

12 Comments on “Banality and Compassion”

Koko Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Watch karen armstrong talk about the charter of compassion on ted.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/234
rima Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Jennie,

Effective March 28, 2008, we should not exercise our right to freedom of expression because our opponents may (and are allowed to) become violent. For the first time in the 60 year history of UN Human Rights bodies, a fundamental human right has been limited simply because of the possible violent reaction by the enemies of human rights.

(I have this in my blog, after reading and entry titled ‘Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights’ in the International Humanist and Ethical Union/IHEU site.)

The demonstrations that took so many lives in May ‘98 was for nothing, many sacrifices of great people around the world to ensure us of our basic right to freedom of expression is now for nothing.

I hope compassion will win at the end, and that violence will be a thing of the past.
Marisa Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Fine analysis, and a beautiful composition, mba Jen. As always.

I absolutely agree to your opinion.
Then again, what’s to disagree? Of course, compassion is the ideal option when it is opposed with banality. Takes no Dalai Lama to realize that. But how about compassion and apathy? How about compassion and ignorance? How about compassion and denial? Or compassion with cowardness?.

Jesus spoke to a man that day: Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. What if the man still cast the stone? What would Jesus do (ahem.)? Just walk away, because Jesus is being too compassionate?.

See, there’s this thing about intellectuals. Not in the subject of theology to be specific. Just intellectuals. Some say, there are two types of intellectuals: Those who are trained to be politicians, and those who are trained to be a soldiers.

Politicians give you bureaucracy, maybe a few self-gratifying bullsh*t, then stability. We need them, we really do. Soldiers, they give you nothing but a reason to fight, to advance forward, and to provide a driving force. And when one can still choose, one do not really fight, one merely choose; but when one is fighting, one knows there is no other choice, no other reason, but to survive. Survival of an idea, that’s all there is to it.

I know I’m such a big mouth to say all that stuffs. I am still inexperienced and I am sure everyone here in IM have learned more of banality and compassion more than I do. But let’s just say, what if ..you have no choice at all.

There’s this saying in my generation btw, “You talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?”. Proof of intellectuality goes something like that. In my terms.

Anyhow, this article is too good to be published only in blogs or even the media. You should deliver this personally to whom it may concerned in this nation. With a real, actual, and yet compassionate fight. We trust you, and everyone here, on that.

Cheers.
Talk is Cheap. Give It For Free. - Journal by The Lightbeamers, MD. Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
[...] Banality and Compassion, authored by Jennie S. [...]
Achmad Sudarsono Says:
April 14th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Friend,

Compassion is the sweet sound of Dangdut, winding through the night air, telling of love, loss, and goyang. As Gus Dur once said: “dangdut tidak pernah pahit.” (Dangdut has never been bitter).
Jen Says:
April 14th, 2008 at 9:07 am
@Koko, thanks for the link.

@Rima, well, let’s see how it goes. Too early to say for now, but I do follow the updates. Thanks.

@Marisa, thanks. Yup, not an “intellectual” here, just a girl in leather jacket with her lipstick and Hello Kitty toy. I’ll keep on fighting, Marisa, with pen/keyboard and other means. I’m just to shy to share those with the world. Let’s keep my offline and online lives separate.

@Achmad, I’m so amazed at how creative you’re with your imagination. I bet the man under this pseudonym be happy, healthy, and wise. I bet you are. You live in Jalan Jaksa no more, yes?
dewaratugedeanom Says:
April 14th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
rima said

Effective March 28, 2008, we should not exercise our right to freedom of expression because our opponents may (and are allowed to) become violent.

Alea iacta est, the dice are thrown. Nothing to do but wait till the next elections and see if Oranje still has cojones.
Cukurungan Says:
April 15th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Jennie S. Bev says compassion is needed to overcome evil and man’s self-destructive instinct.

It is no wonder why there are so many Angels in this world as below:
Hitler is the most compassionate man for Germany
Slobodan Milosevic is the most compassionate man for Serb
Ahmadinejad is the most compassionate man for Iranian
Olmert is the most compassionate man for Jews
Bush is the most compassionate man for American
Osama is the most compassionate man for Arab

Friend,

Compassion is the sweet sound of Dangdut

Compassion is Inul Daratista whereas Banality is Dewi Persik
Rob Says:
April 15th, 2008 at 8:14 am
An impassioned plea! Let’s hope people are listening!
Lairedion Says:
April 16th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I’m all in for compassion but towards nature, wildlife, animals, forests, trees, plants, oceans, seas, rivers etc., to cut it short, our planet.

All this grandiloquent political correct crap talk about humans and religions needing to get along with one another seems admirable but is totally ignoring the real problem of today, the polluting and destruction of our planet. That’s what I call banality.

It is clear humans have failed and it’s now time to pay attention to and take care of our planet because she’s desperately ill. We are the cause of it and we need to help her cure.
Cukurungan Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
All this grandiloquent political correct crap talk about humans and religions needing to get along with one another seems admirable but is totally ignoring the real problem of today, the polluting and destruction of our planet. That’s what I call banality.

It is clear humans have failed and it’s now time to pay attention to and take care of our planet because she’s desperately ill. We are the cause of it and we need to help her cure.

You must be one of the participants of Bali Summit of the Climate Change, in which more than 3 days discuss about how dangerous effect burning hydrocarbon to the earth but none of those participant came there by riding horse or bicycle or swim instead of they prefer to enjoy flight with Boeing or maneuvering with Hummer the fast burner hydrocarbon vehicle.

How you can blame the old religion in which most of their teaching always encourage human to life modestly while the problem pollutions and planet destruction are mostly caused by the excessive exploitation of the natural resource in order to create bigger GDP , bigger market share and extravaganza lifestyle promoted by the latest religion namely globalization.

A lion would only kill a dear when He is hungry but a human with a lion head would kill other 100 millions human in order to ensure that his descendant doest not need to share in hunting a dear with other human. The key issue is not in the religion but human obsession and ambition to life better than the other at whatever cost.

Regards,
Mutant Buddha
Lairedion Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Hello Mas Cuk,

You must be one of the participants of Bali Summit of the Climate Change

No, I was too busy planning my next assault on behalf of the ALF.

Regards,
Eco-terrorist No. 1