did 'not' nothing

[donq]

did 'not' nothing

A couple on their honeymoon were about to get into bed at their hotel when a masked burglar broke in. He drew a chalk circle on the floor, beckoned to the husband, and said, “Stand there in that circle. If you step out of it I shall shoot you through the head.”
While the husband stood there bolt upright, the burglar took everything he could lay his hands on, threw it all into a sack, and was about to get away when he saw the pretty bride covered in nothing more than a sheet. He beckoned to her, turned on the radio, made her dance with him, hugged her, kissed her—and would have raped her if she hadn’t valiantly fought him off.
When the burglar finally took off, the woman turned to her husband and yelled, “What kind of man are you that you stood there in the middle of that circle doing nothing while I was almost raped!”
“It isn’t true to say that I did nothing,” the man protested.
“Well, what did you do?”
“I defied him. Each time he had his back turned toward me, I stuck my foot out of the circle!”

-From "The heart of the enlightened: a book of story meditations" by Anthony de Mello

P.S. A bit of my comment (DonQ's) here: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” as a Quote Falsely Attributed to Edmund Burke. The point is sometimes, many times, we excuse ourselves not to do some good (and hard) things because we are just afraid of getting our hands dirty.

[mojomojo]

Evil people get away with what they do, because those close to them turn a blind eye.
Works on every level.
Peoples ability to live in denial, is mind blowing.
Peoples ability to live unconscious, unbelievable.
I could not agree more, Monty.

[gruntal]

I have been criticized by another for failing to come to her defense. Out of deference to her I rectified the situation immediately and with a vengeance. This was a personal problem so I admit I had some responsibility to solve it. By contrast as a kid I was afraid they would pick on ME if I went against the grain. Back then I was just too young to handle this.

But of late I find and fear getting sucked into contentious situations that change too often. Almost like stepping into a cat or dog fight. For example those more familiar with the history of this very site will know what I mean. When you get involved you do choose sides. And sometimes you have to wonder why some of the others can't or won't solve their own problems ...

[donq]

Hi Robert,

What I liked in this story is that when someone claimed they defy some bad things, but in fact, they still avoid confronting another bidder and worse things. Some of my senior friends told me that some female activists (NGOs) who said they say no to any luxury dress, still wear some expensive brands where no one can see (bra/brassiere etc.). I honestly don't know if it's true. Sure, I don't dare to ask any of my female activist friends either. They have their rights do wear whatever they like for sure. Still, some animal right activists who are protesting on the street while still wearing their leather shoes.

Hi George,
Do agree with you. Sometimes, getting involved means you're trying to prove them wrong and invite fighting. And it seems like sinking in quicksand. It's hard to pull yourselves over later.
I'm trying to avoid this at all costs. I don't like to win, as Buddha said, "winner begets hatred." And I honestly don't like to lose, either. :-) So why getting involved in the first place, right? :-)

[mojomojo]

I do believe in a society where might is right, it is nothing more than an ideal or escapism to believe you can avoid conflict in this life.
No matter what you do or do not do, you will be judged.
I do not believe, it is a case of whether we are right or wrong.
Do the spiritual ones, then walk by, a child been beaten to death, or sexually abused, in the higher knowledge, I will only be interfering
in his spiritual growth.
When we are born into this world, we are a part of it, thinking and acting that we have reached a higher plane and are above what goes on here is trying to exclude ourselves.
It does not work, until we are all on the same page.
How would society be, if we disbanded all those who interfere, police forces and the army.
This week in Dublin a young man aged 24, killed his younger brother aged 18 and the younger twins aged 8, before neighbours broke into the house and stopped him, should they have let him go at it.
Should they have stood outside debating whether they will be judged right or wrong, or afraid to act in case they were drawn down from their dizzy heights.
Should the west have done nothing in the case of the Ukraine war, stood back and watched the people been slaughtered, hoping it might be the breakthrough they need to help themselves.
By your birth alone, you are already involved.

[gruntal]

I live in the most powerful country in the world i.e. the U.S.A. We are also - I would like the think - one of the most open and free societies. At some level we think ( the U.S.A. ) we have a right and responsibility to ensure freedom is protected in the rest of the world. Alas some cultures are juvenile and corrupt. At that level we are imposing our values on them by helping them. Even if we prevailed we would need to stay around forever to nurture.