[Buddha-l] Re: Censorship ...

[Bshmr at aol.com]

Buddha-l members,
 
I am critical of some dynamics within the alleged censorship here.
 
First, several have commented as if censorship was being imposed instead of  
voluntary. I presume that these others received the same off-list allegation  
that I did. That notice was precise yet it did result in deceptions. Thus, the 
 note could be a sample of unskillful speech, either in the writing or in the 
 reading. 
 
Second, the note took a ((s(he))it) perspective which, as is usually the  
case, was manipulative or directive. Yes, there were 'I-statements' interspersed  
but clearly the intent was to mobilize others into a specifically personal  
fantasy. Again, it seemed unwholesome and has bred illusions.
 
Third, these incidents present a thematic conflict between power and  
understanding, or something like that. For example, I noticed the  following:
 
COMMERCE IN THE AGE OF TERROR: RESTRUCTURING THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
AFTER THE LONG WAR Ari Afilalo and Dennis Patterson and Ari Afilalo [ A  
difficult 'abstract' in Word *.doc format. ]
 
...
 
The Kantian, rules based approach to conflict resolution, which the  
Europeans now routinely advance as an alternative to what they view as the  Hobbesian 
slant of the United States, is derived in part from this  experience.
 
...
 

Also, I am a big World Values Survey (WVS) fan.  A popular graphic  ( 
_http://wvs.isr.umich.edu/fig.shtml_ (http://wvs.isr.umich.edu/fig.shtml)   ) 
illustrates that 'Old Catholic European' societies are proximate to what I  refer to 
as a 'herdling' or a messianic cluster while so-called liberal values  are 
scattered. The import being that fundamentalists are very similar to each  other 
and act to promote conformity.
 
This classic conflict has been demonstrated repeatedly in discussions (so  to 
speak) here.
 
[ As an aside: One liberal would hope that the dogmatic and Mess-I-Anic  
'herdlings' would experience insights from the practice of the Dharma/Dhamma and  
dharma/dhamma and would stop proselytizing non-herdlings. It is not going to  
happen in this life-time so it is perfectly understandable that 'herdlings'  
should be devoured occasionally so that they maintain a respectable distance 
and  are relatively quiet. ]
 
Finally, I ask that members consider that some maladaptive patterns do  
appear from time to time on 'boards'. One of the most common is the  
Rescuer-Victim-Persecutor cycle which is taught in dysfunctional families every  where every 
day. Please recognize when it is being acted out and respond with  
understanding or leadership as fits non-herdlings or herdlings as your case may  be. 
Think of it as skillful listening, or something. 
 

Richard Basham
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