Recently I have been watching television news about people protesting about the loss of freedom. They are protesting against what they see as oppression by governments, telling them what to do, particularly in relation to getting vaccinated against Covid 19. It appears to me that they are trying to tear down the very structures of society which ensure their freedom.
These people appear to want freedom for themselves at the same time as they are instilling fear and threatening the safety of others. I see the small number of people attempting to impose their will on a larger number of people. I believe the larger number of people desire to live free of fear. The structure of law and governance in this country is maintained through the parliamentary process to ensure that freedom is available for all.
Very little useful reform comes about when a minority arms themselves with lethal weapons and imposes their particular will on the larger group. Such actions lead to ongoing conflict as the larger group responds to the threat.
The underlying question here, is what is to be done about the needs of those who feel disenfranchised? Firstly, it is important to listen to the fears and the needs of these people.
A way needs to be found which can be accommodated within the framework acceptable to the larger whole. Secondly, solutions proposed need to be discussed at length with those to whom it applies. Solutions generated by the minority are more likely to be implemented successfully.
The balance of power should not be the determinant of a successful outcome. It is usually the case that groups that attempt to address that imbalance of power by arming themselves with life threatening weapons generate conflict. More often than not successful outcomes arise when the majority group is prepared to forego some of its power. Usually this is in the form of disproportionate expenditure on the minority group.
The tolerance of the larger group to address the inherent inequities is not enhanced by the threatening behaviours of minority groups. This suggests that an evaluation of strategies for use by minority groups needs to be undertaken. The application of violence and destructive force must be seen as counter-productive.
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