3/9/2008

"Conflict" as a tool.  Learn to recognize it.

  Years ago in New York, my evangelistic friends with "Jews for Jesus" would use an interesting technique to gather a sidewalk crowd for street preaching.  They would divide into a large group and a small group.  The large group on one side of the street would hand out tracts to passersby.  On the other side of the street, the smaller group would begin jeering and making a fuss about them.  The conflict caused people to pause and watch.  When a sufficient group had gathered the leader would begin preaching.

  The technical name for this is "dialectic materialism."  The use of conflict to achieve a goal.  Labor unions have used it for years.  They search out a grievance.  Fan the flames of discord until there is a major conflict, usually much larger than the initial issue would deserve.  Their goal is to negotiate a compromise they would not have gained had there been productive negotiations without the conflict.

  There is a story about the university president discovering a group of rebellious students lounging all over his office one morning.  He asks the meaning of this.  They respond that they are there to demand parking privileges in the faculty parking lot.  He, of course, refuses.  And he adds, "Get your hands out of my box of cigars!"  The rebel leader responds, "Fine, we won't take your cigars, if you open the faculty parking lot."  The cigars are not the issue, "Conflict" over any issue, it doesn't matter what issue, is the tool being used. here.

  Participants in unhappy marriages are likely very familiar with this subject.  Onlookers wonder why such a big fight is taking place over what seems like a small issue.  One party is likely using the conflict and it wouldn't matter what issue was selected.

  We must learn to recognize dialectic materialism if we are not to be pawns in an effort to use conflict to chip away at what is right.  I have watched tribal and ethnic conflicts used to destabilize strong governments.  One side plants "shills" in an opposing camp and begins a conflict over anything.  The flames are fanned.  Soon there are angry neighborhood rallies.  The good leaders of both sides who refuse to participate are singled out and persecuted by the angry mobs.  It outgrows the government's ability to quell it and destabilization follows.

  No doubt we are seeing that today in Iraq.  It seems very likely that neighboring countries, fearing the spread of civil unity and democracy, would be pleased to put insurgents into both Sunni and Shiia camps to generate conflict that appears to the American press as a "civil war" and is magnified in an effort to block the spread of freedom and peace.  Their goal is to isolate and persecute those who support unity.

  What is the solution to this ages old tactic?  We must learn to apply proven principles to the issues before us.  Having done so and discovered what is right, one must stand firm.  Remember, compromise is the goal of those using conflict as a tool.

  No one said it would be easy.  It is difficult to keep you head, and not respond in like spirit, when in the midst of a jeering mob.  Faith and steadfastness, brotherly love, diligence and industry are all required in order to stand for what is right and face down wrong.

  I guess that defines a "real man" and a leader worth following.