points of view

[dchenes]

My last entry got me thinking about power, specifically the power one has over others. There are some people who have power over you because convention says so (parents, teachers, employers) and some people who have power over you because the law says so (police, politicians). There are also very rare people who have power over you because you choose to give it to them. Anybody who knows that they have power over you because you've given it to them can hurt you more than anybody else if they're not careful with it.


When I was in college, I got into karate in a major way. At one point my sensei said I was one of the bravest people he had taught, because I would spar with anybody, even people he wouldn't want to spar with. That caught me completely by surprise because I never considered it brave; I went into every sparring match trusting that the person I was sparring with wouldn't hurt me on purpose. The only time I ever got seriously hurt in a sparring match, it was a combination of the other person's reflexes taking them over and my landing wrong when I fell. I certainly got my share of bruises and other minor hurts, but those I expected, and was even proud of. Even after my broken elbow healed, I would still spar with anybody.

Is that bravery, or blind stupidity? It depends on your point of view.