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Embracing Compassion in Conflict: Lessons from Courageous Choices

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‘When conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role’

Expository Essay:

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“ Embracing Compassion in Conflict: Lessons from Courageous Choices ”

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Conflict by its very nature creates polarities. Even when conflict is internal, it rarely remains so. When a dispute begins, the world is viewed in black and white terms with no middle ground. Attempts to reconcile differences are often misinterpreted as tacit support for one side or the other.

Conflict is defined by incompatible positions that force individuals to take sides. War constructs an environment in which on a political level, everyone is on a side.

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However, in another sense, everyone is doing what they can or must to survive in their particular situation. Throughout their time as prisoners of war, the women in the camp always disregard the Japanese as their enemy. For some, this is because of nationalistic allegiances, but for other it is because of the way they are treated. Their battle is not against Japan, but against humiliation and the use of brutality to degrade and harm others.

The Japanese impose many acts of humiliation upon the women in the camp, such as forcing them to bow and scramble for food, to haul water for Japanese baths, to rise upon order and to assert the supremacy of the Japanese Empire over the British.

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This humiliation is explained as a reversal of the humiliation to which the Japanese felt the Europeans were subjected colonised Asian people. Hence, why divisions in individuals are experienced during war and consequently force oneself to choose a side.

Conflict can rarely be contained and it inevitably spreads beyond the original dispute. Class prejudices often causes disputes between individuals demonstrating how support and unity is essential in times of conflict. Sometimes the women in the camp are surprised to discover themselves degrading attitudes that they despise in their captors. Prejudices based on class and race must be confronted if conflict is not to destroy all hope and dignity.

However, the women do not last long living under the pressures of camp life and soon they are all equal in scrambling for food and bowing to the Japanese flag. Cultural and educational backgrounds have a more profound impact on the relationships formed within the group and arguments raised between individuals. When a racially motivated fight breaks out over a lost bar of soap, it threatens to undermine the unity and strength of the women. This demonstrates the immense importance to disregard social class for these women.

The middle ground can be the most dangerous place in a conflict because both sides may regard this position with suspicion. Margaret (Daisy Drummond) frequently seeks to mediate between the Japanese and their victims. Her bravery and compassion and her unshakeable belief in the basic goodness of individuals, puts her life at great risk. Her bravery is evident when she marches out with water for Susan who is weakening from her torture. This action may have led to similar punishment for herself.

Sometimes conflict is like a bushfire it spreads and spreads until everyone is forced to take some kind of action. It does not respect those who wish to stay out of its way, anymore than it does those who try to encounter it head on. Arguments, disputes and battles of all sorts are an undeniable part of the fabric of human existence. The goal is always to look for a way to end the fighting and heal the wounds. It is thus crucial not to underestimate the momentum that develops so quickly when conflict arises.

Persuasive Essay:

We sang wonderfully today. The concert was a huge success! Even Captain Tanaka clapped at the end. This would have been unthinkable a few months ago. Maybe the Japs are beginning to think we are humans after all. Well I don’t think I could ever think of them that way.

Adrienne and Daisy were talking about that after the concert. The interpreter asked them to perform a traditional Japanese song. Daisy looked like she was about to agree, but Adrienne said “NO!” straight away. Adrienne admitted she hates the Japs, but Daisy said the worse they acted the most sorry she felt for them. I’ve been thinking about that a lot. It seems Daisy doesn’t see things like most of us do. She doesn’t see us as innocent and the Japs as evil. She just doesn’t take sides like that.

It is easer to wonder if Daisy is like this because she is just too soft-a pushover who will help anyone-maybe just to be liked. I knew some girls like that back at school, they’d get bullied all the time but still hang around with the bullies. But that’s not Daisy. She is the bravest of us all. She marched straight out in front of the soldiers with water for Susan that horrible day and she bargained for Susan’s release too. But that’s it, she wanted to help Susan, but she never wanted to hurt the Japs. For her it isn’t us against them, she feels compassion for everyone.

That’s amazing but I don’t know anyone else like Daisy. Most of us are like Adrienne. We have to take sides because the war puts us on a side. I don’t understand how anyone could possibly feel compassion towards the Japs; they have put us through extraordinary challenges, where I personally have had to test my morals. But I have to put aside my morals for the time being, if I want to survive in this corrupt environment.

I often relate my thoughts back to Daisy’s, she is so compassionate and highly respected though the camp. Does this mean she accepts the behaviours of the Japs, humiliating us?

Daisy was in the missionaries, maybe she feels a sense of understanding towards the Japs?

‘When conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role’

Expository Essay:

One of the great myths of conflict is that is can always be contained. Whether it is encountered in the personal or political sphere, conflict will often spread beyond the main combatants. History demonstrates that wars escalate in a world where connections between individuals and states are so complex and it is so difficult to come to a definite conclusion. An argument between friends will generally force those on the perimeter to choose sides. Conflict by its very nature creates polarities. Even when conflict is internal, it rarely remains so. When a dispute begins, the world is viewed in black and white terms with no middle ground. Attempts to reconcile differences are often misinterpreted as tacit support for one side or the other.

Conflict is defined by incompatible positions that force individuals to take sides. War constructs an environment in which on a political level, everyone is on a side. However, in another sense, everyone is doing what they can or must to survive in their particular situation. Throughout their time as prisoners of war, the women in the camp always disregard the Japanese as their enemy. For some, this is because of nationalistic allegiances, but for other it is because of the way they are treated.

Their battle is not against Japan, but against humiliation and the use of brutality to degrade and harm others. The Japanese impose many acts of humiliation upon the women in the camp, such as forcing them to bow and scramble for food, to haul water for Japanese baths, to rise upon order and to assert the supremacy of the Japanese Empire over the British. This humiliation is explained as a reversal of the humiliation to which the Japanese felt the Europeans were subjected colonised Asian people. Hence, why divisions in individuals are experienced during war and consequently force oneself to choose a side.

Cultural and educational backgrounds have a more profound impact on the relationships formed within the group and arguments raised between individuals. When a racially motivated fight breaks out over a lost bar of soap, it threatens to undermine the unity and strength of the women. This demonstrates the immense importance to disregard social class for these women.

-indigenous Australians.

Daisy demonstrates that in times of conflict we can have courage to not comprise our convictions even in the direst circumstances. Her strength comes from her authentic faith. When the observation is made following an incident of nauseating brutality that she doesn’t hate the oppressors, Margaret responds, “I just can’t bring myself to hate people. The worse they behave, the more sorry I feel for them.” This powerful character illustrates that in times of serve conflict our morals do not have to be compromised if we have the strength to do so.