Thank you for the Thich Nhat Hanh quote. Even in exile from his country for all those years he remained calm and true to himself. I agree that the root of the lie (and violence for that matter) is fear and panic. It seems that there was no one in the "boat" of the conflict who was not without panic. And fear. Not unlike the boy you describe, Kissinger and Nixon, and all involved were lying to ease their own fear.
I think that was one of the things that was so painful about studying this history--looking directly at the unending string of decisions based on fear and panic. The TNH quote is one that helps me abate fear and find my footing in the power of individual equanimity. We may not be able to save every boat~but we just may save the one we're in, even if "just" from and for ourselves.
Thank you for the Thich Nhat Hanh quote. Even in exile from his country for all those years he remained calm and true to himself. I agree that the root of the lie (and violence for that matter) is fear and panic. It seems that there was no one in the "boat" of the conflict who was not without panic. And fear. Not unlike the boy you describe, Kissinger and Nixon, and all involved were lying to ease their own fear.
I think that was one of the things that was so painful about studying this history--looking directly at the unending string of decisions based on fear and panic. The TNH quote is one that helps me abate fear and find my footing in the power of individual equanimity. We may not be able to save every boat~but we just may save the one we're in, even if "just" from and for ourselves.