Day 17: Cooperation

Day 17

Cooperation with others.

Perception, expereince, tenacity

Know when to lead and when to follow.

Deng Ming-Dao

Do you think Haitian Government has read this meditation? This approach apparently doesn't apply if chaos exists in the streets after a 7.0 earthquake. The Haitian Government seems to show no initiative or influence in this particular situation, let alone a resonsibility to their country. They've decided to let other countries take responsibility (ranging from the U.S. to Turkey), to support the people of Haiti. These people have been foresaken by their "God" and "Government". 

Deng Ming-Dao writes, "The best leader remains obsure..." Based on this description, the Haitian Government  is  a great example of taoists leadership (they probably practice Tai Chi in the local park every morning).  "As long as the collective has direction (Even the people of Haiti deny direction and cooperation amongst themselves - looting, killing, stealing, etc.), the leader is satisfied. Credit is not taken, it will be awarded when the people realize that it was the subtle influence of the leader that brought them success."  I think the Haitian Government is well satisfied and are willing to take credit for whatever the other countries do for them in this situation.

To be passive in a situation can lead to upheaval and chaos. However, leading is not always the best option either. Standing back to see what the situation is really about, to get a true perception of the isssue is a great way to make a determination. Joseph Campbell explores an Irish saying that goes something like, "Is your fight or can anybody join?"  It looks to me like the Haitian Government is doing just that - letting these territorial countries who want to fight over "I helped save Haiti the Most" button, to just do it. They're just standing back and letting it all unfold.

Hmmm.You know what? I think they are being taoists.  They see the situation for what it is and they are just letting it be.  Day 10: Disaster: "Disaster may well change us deeply, but they will pass...Whether we remain ash or become the phoenix is up to us."  Maybe, (this is a big maybe) the Haitian overnment is not cooperating with other countries because they are very use to death, destruction and eventually, some type of resurrection in whatever form that it takes. On the other hand,  the heroic countries with a  "Superman" mentality may be obstructing the natural course of things due to their own agendas. I'm not saying that there aren't people from these "Superman" countries (First Responders, etc.) that really want to help. But, I think there is a much larger picture here about human action and reaction than most people are seeing, such as Day 14: Positioning - "If we are not in the right place at the right time, we cannot possibly take advantage of what life has to offer to us."  In this particular case, perhaps a military advantage. Russia and Venezuela have been playing little war games, but the United States has not been invited to play.

Why does anyone cooperate?

Is it for bettering the world,

our business, or ourselves?

-Demori