[Buddha-l] Silence of the List

[Joy Vriens]

Stephen Hodge wrote:

> Gandhi: only the strong have a right to call themselves 
> true pacificists; the weak are pacificists only out of necessity.

The strong have any right they want. They decide on who has what rights. 
But every child knows that. Is that what Gandhi wanted to point out?

I find this quote quote is reminiscent of a scene from the Remains of 
the Days, where the butler (Stevens) was asked to answer a series of 
questions asked by a member of the conference (Mr Spencer) who wanted to 
prove his position against universal suffrage, judging that common 
people were incapable of democratically legislating on important 
international matters.

"Stevens was not able to answer any of them “I’m afraid I am unable to 
be of
assistance on this matter”, was his standard reply. He simply politely 
apologised after
every question."

Later Lord Darlington explains:
"It was really quite dreadful. But you see, Stevens, Mr. Spencer had to 
make a point to Sir Leonard. In fact, if it's any consolation, you did 
assist in demonstrating a very important point. Sir Leonard had been 
talking a lot of that old-fashioned nonsense. About the will of the 
people being the wisest arbitrator...We're really so slow in this 
country to regonize when a thing's outmoded. Other great nations know 
full well that to meet the challenges of each new age means discarding 
old, sometimes well-love methods. Not so here in Britain. There's still 
so many talking like Sir Leonard last night. ...We're always the last, 
Stevens. Always the last to be clinging on to outmoded systems. But 
sooner or later, we'll need to face up to the facts. Democracy is 
something for a bygone era." (198)