In every social and political interaction, Between individual persons, families, communities and nations, There is an action, And there is a reaction: A normal response, retaliatory, preventive measure or 'to teach a lesson'.
We may react erratically: Violent, abusive, illegal; But justify all the same, having been provoked into it.
We may be right, But, then we are not aiming high enough.
A mistrust, suspicion, lack of trust, Between spouses, friends, families, countries, Religions, sub groups of religions is there invariably; Leads to lack of harmony and even violence and war, A costly proposition.
Retaliation Between Spouses Spouses too indulge in retaliation, and justifying later.
There are different views, different solutions, for day-to-day problems: Which movie to see, where to go for vacations? We all insist, 'my suggestion, my solution is the best', If it is not accepted, we sulk; We may not even consider, the suggestion given by the spouse.
The financially heavy weight spouse may use veto; and activate own idea, It may breed resentment, if veto is the norm, always.
It results in dilution, cracks in warmth in the family.
Retaliation games begins subconsciously: Avoiding sleeping together, with-holding finances; It hurts harmony in marriage.
With In-laws In-laws resent daughter-in-law's indiscreet remarks, When they visit son's house; Daughter-in-law recalls an earlier snub.
Both blame each-other of initiating the coldness in relations.
The life continues with mutual distrust; Their common loved-one, the husband or the son, Struggling in vain, to find a solution.
Both justifying retaliation, If only they could bend their ego backwards, Create harmony in the house! The issue is omnipresent in humanity.
Harmony Between Religions There is competitive marketing, To capture increased share of number of followers in own religion; In good faith to help humanity, But believing our faith is the best.
The missionaries serve poverty-stricken, underdeveloped areas, Offering monetary incentives, subsidised schooling for children.
It annoys local religious leaders.
There are conversions and re-conversions, Leading to unrest, tension, violence, action, reaction, retaliation and justification.
Political Interactions A country, a watchdog of humanity, May rightly suspect, another country, With loose administrative controls, a dictator and militants around, Of having, WMD ( weapons of mass destruction); Worried for danger to world peace.
On this pretext, it may attack unilaterally, Without UN sanctions, confident in justifying later, A preventive action for the good of humanity.
But it propagates wrong values, Might is right and lack of transparency; May be it was essential, but in the long run does not serve the purpose.
A better alternative, Supplement the brute force, money power to solve the problems, With an effort to change the hearts, Educate people for positive development in society: Curtail opium harvesting, drugs manufacture, Human trafficking, sex tourism, religious fundamentalism.
Give them alternate options to live.
We can do it.
Solution is Possible Let us build cheaper confidence building measures: Understanding others' religions, a respect for others' view-point, a spirit of tolerance, Curtailing the greed to maximise numbers who follow our culture, our religion and our values.
We value our view-point, our approach and our solution, But there is never one solution to a situation; There will be always multiple solutions, all equally good.
God will love us more, If we do not insist on: Our solution, our culture, our religion are the best.
It will enhance harmony every where, If we insist on our solution, to boost our ego, We will all be losers.
The warring groups may throw thorns at each other, Block the path and cut off, from each other.
A better option, Not to retaliate, to close the door, Maintain self-interest, but talk.
To talk or to cancel the meeting are both political options.
Obama has chosen latter with Putin; Hurt, feeling let down over Snowden's asylum.
All the best, Sir!