"I respect even my guards"

Yang Janil, a pro-democracy activist from my area, was just recently released from 5 years imprisonment and torture in China.  I found what he said upon his release really inspiring: "The only enemy is the autocratic system--I have no personal enemy.  I respect even my guards, my interrogators, my prosecutors as human beings.  What they do is understandable--not acceptable, but understandable."  

Respect? Really?

Hmm... interesting approach. Perhaps I'm reading it all wrong.  But... is it really... understandable?  I find it interesting among those conditions as his life is being threatened, one tends to feel satisfactory in saying such things.  It's most certainly therapeutic. 

respect and understandable

Actually kat, this quotation was after he was released and back in the states so I don't think he made it while his life was threatened (if that's what you meant). I think "respect" in the context can mean something along the lines of still valuing them as human beings--and being able to do so because he understands the things that are determining their actions--the system they are living under--attacking the system rather than the people who are shaped by it. Or that was my reading.

re: respect and understandable

Well, I was meaning after he was released. Feeling a sense of enlightment having survived what he had gone through.  But I mean, it can work both ways really. 

I see what you mean (and him).  I just think it can go in circles as well.  The term really is systematically bias.  There wouldn't be a system without the people.  The system is defined not only by the ruler but also by his followers.   But, again, I see what the flaws are in place and under the circumstances, why it's understandably there. 

But yes, a very powerful message indeed.

respect and understandable

yeah kat, I see what you're saying and agree with you.

re: respect and understandable

Jazzie, it's that 11%. Tongue out

11%

Hehe--our new t-shirt kat; the 11% club

Or: 11% Judging; 89% Forgiving; 100% Human Smile

(This is 'cause kat and I scored the same 11% "Judging" on the Jungian Typology test)

Hey...

I think I got 11% on that, too... but... I didn't write down my numbers... Frown

11%

That must have been cause of that intuitive rating. Smile

I think I speak for kat in saying that you are welcome to the 11% club with or without your numbers ("numbers, we don't need no stinking numbers!")--'cause that's the kinda club we are!

11%

Yeah! 11% club, lol... dang jaz, should we start our own clothing line? Laughing

Explains why we don't need no stinkin tin foil hats, too! And Prof's high intuition explains why he hates them!

 

 

Respect? Really?

Powerful stuff.

Re: "I respect even my guards."

Wow.