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Power vs. force I get ideas for these columns in a variety of ways. Sometimes it's a news headline; sometimes it's a pet peeve; sometimes it's just an issue I've been thinking about, and it flows out onto the page. This one comes from a lesson my minister presented, back on Groundhog Day, whose title I have even appropriated for this piece. As a songwriter, I know the value of crediting co-writers, so I will eagerly acknowledge the work of the Rev. Dr. Mitch Johnson, Religious Science of Nashville [http://www.rsn.org], without whom I'm not sure I could have formed this set of ideas. "Dr. Mitch" describes his congregation and doctrine as "freewill, holographic, scientific panantheism" -- I prefer to call it a "libertarian church" and leave it at that; there are a number of parishioners who self-identify as such, and many others who are at very least fellow travelers with the philosophy.
And with that, on with the show: I have always had a problem with the word "power." It brings up for me images like "might makes right" -- which never seemed quite, well, right to me. In the 80s and 90s, people talked about 'power lunches' and 'power ties;' neither of which I really wanted much to do with -- I prefer a more leisurely form at lunch, and I rarely wear ties (except, when one is expected, my favorite John Lennon "Imagine" one, with the piano keys running down the middle). I also firmly believed that a Libertarian's proper relationship to "power" was confined to being its sworn enemy, and that the true purpose for the Libertarian Party seeking to get people elected to office was that it would then be easier to dismantle the State from within. I still mostly believe this latter concept, but I have also come to respect Power a lot more in recent times, and the Sunday lesson referred to above has only solidified that. Stated simply: Power is fine, and a good thing; it's Force that I detest and despise! Quoting from Dr. Mitch's lesson: "… I have come to understand that true spiritual power arises from the meaning -- the value, the life-enhancing qualities, the joy, the love -- that we give to that which we want to create. In other words, this thing [we] want to experience or create … gives to all of life -- not just you or me. It will bless the world, if you will…" He notes that the question to ask about a goal or intention is this: "Will this thing I want to create bless the whole world, or not? If it's a NOT, it won't come from true Power, it will come from Force!" He then cites the Hawkins book [http://www.veritaspub.com/powervsforce.htm], finding more ammunition for his thesis: "On examination, we'll see that Power arises from meaning. It has to do with motive; it has to do with principle. Power is always associated with that which supports the significance of Life itself. It appeals to that part of human nature that we call 'noble'… This contrasts with Force, which appeals to that which we call 'crass.' Power appeals to that which uplifts, dignifies and ennobles. Force must always be justified, whereas power requires no justification. Force is associated with the partial; power, with the whole. If we analyze the nature of force it becomes readily apparent why it must always succumb to power. This is in accordance with one of the basic laws of physics, because force automatically creates counter-force, and its effect is limited by definition. "Power on the other hand is still. It's like a standing field that doesn't move, Gravity itself, for instance, doesn't move against anything; its power moves all objects within its field, but the gravity in itself does not move. Force always has something to move against. Power gives life and energy; force takes these away. We notice that power is associated with compassion, and makes us feel positively about ourselves. Force is associated with judgment, and makes us feel poorly about ourselves…" ***** Okay, my turn. What I take from all of this is a very clear congruity between those sentiments and what true libertarianism is all about: a view of reality based on the essence of human Liberty, self-responsibility and voluntary action. I often refer to my church as "a libertarian answer to religion," and note that the founder, Ernest Holmes [http://website.lineone.net/~ernestholmes/holmspeaks.htm], did not set out to create a church, but a movement for consciousness-raising. (And in all likelihood was made aware not only of the potential for proselytizing his ideas, but of the tax benefits of adopting the former format, and so thus allowed his teachings to be couched in those terms -- One more example of why income taxes should be abolished, as a distortion of good intentions!) To me, the key passage in this is that second paragraph, and the part about Force requiring "justification" -- whereas Power is its own best witness. Exerting power, in the sense of using one's personal energy and intention toward a goal of higher-minded purpose, requires no apologies or explanations. Exacting force against an object -- or worse yet, another human being -- requires that any but the most callous totalitarian must first show good cause for the action (and even then, the action remains suspect until proven clearly to be necessary). Then too, there is the affirmation that Power "appeals to that which uplifts, dignifies and ennobles…" When we look at Power as a manifestation of seeking a higher good -- not the greater good of the many, at the expense of the few, but a truly larger purpose, in which the world of scarcity and win/lose gives way to one of abundance and win/win conditions. Seeking to maximize Liberty is clearly one of these higher purposes -- perhaps the only real one, since the very nature of Liberty is that one can only possess it to the extent that one equally grants others the same autonomy of action sought for oneself. Then there is the association of Power with a unifying oneness, whereby all are treated as equally entitled (while Force is restricted to partial, at best dualistic, status). Force requires that there be some barrier or obstacle to push against -- some other that is not part of the force itself. Power issues from, and grows out of, a Unity of energy, and requires no such other to work against, since it does not oppose but merely radiates outward in harmony. Once again, this is displayed in such elements of Liberty as the Bill of Rights, which might better be defined as a Bill of Restrictions on the Application of Force; each amendment is stated in terms like "Congress shall make no law" or "shall not be infringed" -- showing not what latitude is allowed by some fiat (force), but what Liberty may not abridged, for ANY purpose. Finally, in this one richly textured paragraph, there is the declaration of the supremacy of Power: "If we analyze the nature of force it becomes readily apparent why it must always succumb to power. This is in accordance with one of the basic laws of physics, because force automatically creates counter-force, and its effect is limited by definition." Here more than anywhere else is acknowledged the rightful ranking of these two elements, as the limitlessness of Power (which neither seeks nor has an adversary) outweighs the finite dimensions of Force. ***** Back to Dr. Mitch and his lesson: "This sounds an awful lot like: Force is Judgment, and Power is Love," he says, noting that Hawkins himself arrives at the same conclusion later in the book. He then cites an oft-misused Biblical quote: "The teacher Jesus said something very interesting: 'Resist not evil.' (citation). Now what I think he meant was this: We also know (from spiritual practice) that, 'what we resist … persists' -- And why? Because we give it the energy of our attention and emotion." He refers to high school physics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, and concludes, "So resisting is in the nature of Force, rather than of Power. "Now notice," he continues, "how similar to Eastern martial arts this is: They teach you never to stand against a blow -- to resist it, like a rock -- but to bend with it, like a tree with the wind, and roll with it; you give it nothing to smack down. In like manner in our lives, we have to stop seeing people, situations and events as enemies to overcome, to force into submission and to our will. Because as we have come to see, there are no real enemies, except our own negative beliefs about who we are and what we can do." ***** Me: The thing that strikes me most about the lesson is how smoothly it fits with my own thoughts about resistance and battle, and the amount of energy one must expend when treating the world as an adversary and not a companion and life-partner. True, there may come a time when the only course open is direct struggle with the forces of tyranny; in truth, far too many of our compatriots have already fallen in such battles for self-determination and Liberty. Back in the mid-70s, during the early days of the Libertarian Party, Karl Bray went to prison for his convictions -- and died there, under very suspicious conditions. He was only the first of several whose deaths were clouded with unanswered questions. About a decade ago, the twin tragedies of Randy Weaver and his family, and the infamous holocaust at Mount Carmel, reminded us of the fearsome Force that could be brought to bear by a government bent on imposing its way at any cost. In more recent times, Peter McWilliams was basically murdered by a system of "justice" that would not even uphold the laws passed via legitimate citizen initiative. Then there were the two Rainbow Farms victims in southern Michigan, whose senseless deaths only a couple years ago (mainly for the 'crime' of growing pot plants, for personal use, within an enclosed and controlled piece of their own property. An acquaintance of mine had up close and personal knowledge of the incident.) reminded us once more of the 'might' of the Leviathan State. Others now still under siege include Peter's own close friend and business associate, Todd McCormick (still behind bars as I write this), as well as Steve and Michelle Kubby, who have had to emigrate to Canada to find some release from California Federal-court harassment, and are still now battling not to be extradited back to serve time for trumped-up charges that replaced the ones for which they were emphatically acquitted by a jury of their peers. And then there are those like Ed Rosenthal, who can't get justice even when the jury wants him to be acquitted. With all of this to spur us on to direct confrontation, sometimes it's a wonder we're not all out in the streets, waging the revolutionary battles -- like those brave Hungarians of the 1950s, dropping their tin pie-plates in front of the Soviet tanks, in hopes that they would be taken for unexploded landmines. (As I've said in my own song-lyrics, "Some say it's time to take up arms/And fight for what's left of our rights/'Cause Armageddon time is drawing near…") But what would be the point? The effort would be futile, scattershot and ultimately suicidal, given the present pro-war, pro-administration context of America in general. Martyrdom is for those who have given up all hope, and seek merely to leave a message or a battle-cry for the next wave of warriors. (Besides, as I went on to say in that song: "… I think we still have a chance/To turn this train around/With simple truths, built on solid ground…") ***** Mitch again, this time on the use of "force" to get your way. In this case, he seems to be talking mostly about corporate ladder-climbing, but the premise is the same: "I saw a Success seminar once that advertised this way: 'Smash the wall that blocks your path, by the projection of your Will!' And I thought, hmm… That means first, there's a wall, a barrier, something against which I have to struggle and smash. And then, second, I've got to smash it and destroy it, to run over it. And third, I have to somehow summon all the energy and the fight and the weaponry I can bring, and the armor and the Will to do this! "But do I really have to batter down doors in order to achieve my personal goals? Do I have to become stubborn, and grit my teeth, and be very willful and … keep on pushing, despite the pain? "Yes, you can create through will power, but … it takes a lot of energy, and time and trouble, to keep an idea going and hold it together. Many successes have been created this way, but the price of that success is very high, in physical and mental well-being, when you have to force it." Me: How much better would it be, if we just continued to rise above it, carrying on as best we can, knowing that in the long run we will prevail and succeed? How about if we use the negative energy that we get from the anger and rage these injustices bring up for us … to create something positive around us? How about if we open our hearts to a bigger vision, of community and voluntarism and freedom -- even if it just among those we live and work and love with, who are closest to our hearts and minds, and nearest to our vision of Liberty … and Peace and Love? Mitch: "A much saner approach to Power, to God, is to be willing to have it happen through you -- and yes, there are times when you have to keep on keepin' on, even when you don't feel like it -- but we use our Will to keep our minds on course, not to create with. An infinite, correlated intelligence and Love figures out the best way to do it, to be the greatest blessing to us, and the greatest blessing to all of Life. "I'm not saying don’t be persistent or determined. I'm saying, 'Be persistent and determined, without Fear or Force!' … True Power comes from loving what we do, rather than forcing ourselves to do something that we really don't want to, and don't like." Me: And once again, if we are going to succeed with this 'revolution of ideas', it will be because we have come from what is highest and best within us, and the desire to bring Liberty to ALL people -- not just from some "gimme mine" or "tit for tat" backroom deal, that puts one pressure-group in the driver's seat until the next one gains the favor of the King and his Court. Mitch: "The important point here is, Power, as we are talking about it, is spiritual Power. It's Love, really. If you are ever going to create a life, a city, a world free of enemies, free of poverty, free of obstacles to Good… then we have to free ourselves from Fear! "Carl Jung said: '… that I feed the hungry, forgive an insult and love my enemy -- these are great virtues. But what if I discovered that the poorest of beggars, and the most impudent of offenders, are all within me, and that I stand in need of alms of my own kindness, that I myself am the enemy who must be loved. '… "Think of it like this: We can't generate Love from human Fear. Fear can only create Fear. Religions, nations, whole civilizations have crumbled, because someone was trying to force some kind of [what they considered] good into being on other people. That's that, 'Oh, I'm gonna kill you for your own good!' (Steve: A.k.a. "We have to destroy the village in order to save it…" The repetitions of history, from back when I was just beginning my libertarian journeys, echo eerily in the present context about "rebuilding Iraq" -- even while it still stands, before its impending destruction.) And a closing comment by Mitch: "As the Bible states, 'Perfect Love casteth out Fear.' Only Love can create more love, and Love … is Power. Fear, on the other hand, is based on simple, five-sensory, it's-out-there-and-it-might-be-out-to-get-me information. But who we are, and what we are, are so much more than anything we might fear. As the Judeo-Christian Bible so clearly states, 'Know ye not ye are Gods and children of the most high?' "I am reminded of another teaching of Jesus, when he said, 'I of myself can do nothing…'. I suspect he was saying, 'I of my five-sensory, fearful, human, small-minded, looking-outside-me-for-power, human-ego self … can't do anything. Small-mindedness and fear can only create more small-mindedness and fear. I of myself can do nothing!' "Now that was not an admission of defeat, powerlessness or limitation. It was a willingness, I believe, to allow Love, and to allow him to become more. Because he follows it with this: 'The Father within does the work!' "That's not Force, that's Power!" Steve: All I can add is what we say in unison to close each prayer treatment: "…And so it is…!" |
