My favorite philosopher of all time - who happens to be my mother- once told me: "never close the eyes of your mind- or your heart," because we are not isolated from others; we are surrounded. However, what use is seeing (with your eyes OR your mind) if we only see what we want or wish to see? This is when I see Cortes come in.
On page 91, Todorov writes "Durign th first contact of Cortes's army with the Indians, the Spaniards (hypocritically) declare that they are not seeking war, but peace and love; "they did not reply in words but with a shower of arrows" (Cortes, 21). The Indians do not realize that the words can be a weapon quite as dangerous as arrows." Yet, according to the Aztec culture words are for women and weapons for men. "what Aztec warriors did not know is that the "women" would win this war..." (92). However, Cortes understood his other better than Columbus. Yet, the consequences remain the same. Why?
This is the same question that Todorov wrestles with: "Should not understanding go hand in hand with sympathy?" (127). A paradox like non other: An understanding-that-kills. La Casas, a Priest witnessing all evil by the Spaniards loves the Indians. One might argue that he is more Christian than Columbus or Cortes, and yet he does not think violence is the answer. He knows his religion is the true religion without knowing anything about the natives. Adapting this to the current times, how can we know that our "just war" is a just war, when we do not know enough to justify waging of a just war? Or he who knows he is more civilized than the savages before his eyes, when he doesn't know about his inner savage who's after civilizing the Other? What's the solution?
Well, Todorov has a prescription: A Perfect Stranger. A man in an existential crisis, perhaps? It is true that we affect one another by merely existing. In such a circumstance, world will need more than A Perfect Stranger, but a world full of perfect strangers. To achieve this more mobility is needed, which we take as given in the 21st century. However, I do not think we are any close to Todorov's "Perfect Stranger" depiction for we leave ourselves...only to find ourselves. Being a sojourner, or a nomad, or "Perfect Stranger" loosens social ties, only to strengthen some inner ties to things we find in our true essence. For Emilio, this was faith...and at the end of the day that was all he was left with.
I won't be in class this week, so I'll appreciate if you could share your thoughts with me after you read this.
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"A paradox like non other: An understanding-that-kills." I would go so far as to say that the process of understanding one another always has some element of destruction to it. Look at The Sparrow - in attempting to understand the cultures of Rakhat, both the humans, Runa, and Jana'ata are subject to crises and death. Is there a way for peoples, on a large group scale, to understand each other without some kind of destruction? It doesn't even have to be physical destruction - it could be destruction of cultural tradition, a destruction of the old way of life. And if destruction is inevitable, is it worth it? Should we just all leave each other alone? Maybe non-communication and non-exposure is the only true peace?
ReplyDeleteDestruction itself comes with a negative tone, but it can be a positive occurrence. I would agree that something is always destroyed when and understanding of each other occurs, but that it is our preconceived ideas that are destroyed. Stereotypes, myths, rumors are brought into light when we really get to know individuals. I believe it is good that these are destroyed. One would hope sympathy would follow understanding, but that certainly isn't the case when one has an agenda of violence or harm form the beginning.
ReplyDeleteAaron brought up a point before about communication being achieved once a practical result was accomplished as a result. He point out that accomplishment is usually achieved through interaction and communication. I disagree with the idea that Andrew brings up. We can't leave each other alone. First, because that's impossible, but also because we only achieve the great accomplishments of humanity through interactions with others, be it through personal relations, oral stories, or books. Communication builds society. With out it, there wouldn't be humanity. The Tigers would have eaten us.