Our Status Under Human Rights: We Have a Common Solution

We covered some of this in the last blog so I'll get right down to business.

(PS. If you want the preliminaries, you can find that background here:  Our Status Under Human Rights: None of Us is 'The Problem'
http://peerlyhuman.blogspot.com/2017/10/thirty-sixth-hour-of-personhood-our.html)



Anti-Reactivity Recipe


In actuality, the common solution proposed by the Universal Declaration is pretty straight forward.  The idea is to prevent the escalating cycle of human reactivity before it starts.  Doing so involves two basic strategies:


1. Offer unconditional personhood: 

We need to treat each other in ways that avoid stirring up reactivity as much as possible (e.g., like human family, with respect and high regard)


2. Support universal access to basic needs: 

Support every last one of us to access the basic needs and resources that all of us need in order to live well feel and be well.


The point is to prevent the conditions of fear and want that lead to reactivity - which is extremely dangerous.  As the world community found out with World Wars I & II, once reactivity gets triggered, it might never stop.

Even worse, in an Atomic age, there's basically no limit to the damage that human reactivity can cause. The natural tit for tat of  "You bruise me, I bruise you" can go on forever.  Someone has to make a conscious decision to stop it.  By then, it may be too late.  Especially in a world of chemical warfare and weapons of mass destruction.  Far better is to prevent reactivity before it gets started.

Thoughtful interlude:

Isn't this what Buddha said?

No mud, no lotus. No lotus, no mud. 😀

But can't you just make someone stop it?  Isn't that what laws are for?  Isn't it just like raising kids?  

Yes - it's a lot like raising kids.  Therein lies the problem.  When people feel coerced or unfairly treated, they can carry a grudge forever.  You may think everything is fine - and then...

POW!

There you are being blind-sided by an old issue you thought had been resolved years ago.

So, let's be clear.  

It's absolutely true that if you are in a power role you can use your authority to make someone stop it.

And you may even get the appearance of something being stopped  - for a while.  

But forcing someone to stop it, doesn't necessarily stop it.

It might go underground if they're only complying because they fear or need you.


But if they ever don't...

 watch out!  

The only way to stop it for sure is if those involved voluntarily make a decision to end it.

And the only real way to for that to happen is if someone makes a conscious decides to forgive and move on.

Even then it's sometimes hard to know....

Did they really forgive you from the heart - or are they just sick of fighting...  (for now)


The Universal Declaration didn't want to leave this to chance.  Yes, perhaps forgiveness could be a last resort in a pinch.  But how much better to head reactivity off at the pass and prevent it from happening start in the first place. Before there's even an injury.  Before bad feelings even have a chance to arise. 

That is the solution proposed by human rights.