The Power of Conviction A Forgotten Virtue
Conflict between nations and cultures has always reflected the struggle of the willingness to compromise versus the power of conviction. Contemporary America forgets that near the end of World War II, the United States was so weary of fighting an Imperial Japan that was using suicide tactics that some were calling for a structured conditional surrender rather than unconditional surrender. If the atomic bombs were not available, its conceivable that rather than risk millions of combat casualties, a different negotiated peace might have been reached with a very different world today.
The so-called Cold War was really never very hot because in truth the power of conviction was much greater in the democracies of the West than the Communist regimes. Today, however, we face a world with a much different set of circumstances. A significant and growing part of the world believes that a way of life that should encompass all aspects of life should be the primary focus of their lives. Even further they believe they have a duty to protect and promulgate these beliefs throughout the world. This is the real underlying power of the suicide bomber, not the damage an individual will do but the will of that society as a whole it reflects. On the other hand, most of Western society sees religion as compartimentalized portion of an individual life which is separate if not invisible to the larger secular organization of society.
Interestingly, in the distant past, religious freedom was a tenet more of the lands under Middle Eastern influence than Western influence. One need only look at the treatment of Jews under the rule of Arabic Barbars in Spain who were treated as fellow children of Abraham and people of the book but then were persecuted when Spain become Christian under the Inquisition.
A great example of the power of conviction can be seen in the life of Giovanne di Bernardone, better known to Catholics as St. Francis of Assisi. In 1219 he was caught between the lines of Christian crusaders and forces of the Sultan Melek-al-Kamel. St. Francis was preaching non-violence and challenged Muslim clerics to a trial by fire. They refused but St. Francis walked across the fire unharmed. The power of conviction he demonstrated so impressed the Sultan that war that day was adverted.
Human kind will continue to search for that which is the immutable truth. We have to recognize that in our relations with other societies there may be found some commonality but also profound difference. How negotiations proceed in conflicts that will inevitably occur cannot depend just upon a willingness to compromise but also upon demonstrating our own power of conviction. This of course, means we must always define and clearly annunciate to ourselves and our potential adversaries what are our convictions. History has taught us that the power of conviction is most often the deciding factor in human conflict. Demonstrating only a willingness to compromise or not clearly defining our convictions will only create further disharmony.