It may at first glance seem paradoxical that a community that is a safe place and a laboratory for disarmament should also be a place of conflict. Perhaps a story will help...
A Sufi master was strolling through the streets one day with his students. When they came to the city square, a vicious battle was being fought between government troops and rebel forces. Horrified by the bloodshed, the students implored,"Quick, Master, which side should we help?"
"Both," the Master replied. The students were confused. "Both?" they demanded. "Why should we help both?"
"We need to help the authorities learn to listen to the aspirations of the people,"the Master answered,"and we need to help the rebels learn how not to compulsively reject authority."
In genuine community there are no sides. It is not always easy, but by the time they reach community the members have learned how to give up cliques and factions. They have learned how to listen to each other and how not to reject each other. Sometimes consensus in community is reached with miraculous rapidity. But at other times it is arrived at only after lengthy struggle. Just because it is a safe place does not mean community is a place without conflict. It is, however, a place where conflict can be resolved without physical or emotional bloodshed and with wisdom as well as grace. A community is a group that can fight gracefully...
excerpt from: Scott Peck (1987) The Different Drum.
pdf document: A group that can fight gracefully.
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