The new dam on the Yangtze will flood the beautiful three gorges
Spawned from a mountain cataract,
The long river surges to the sea.
Its torrents savage its igneous bed,
Yet one blade of rock twists it tightly.
Angry waves plow stone furrows into a maze,
And boats find it difficult to maneuver.
From this point, one man held off an entire army,
And poets found inspiration among the nests of
eagles.Along the Yangtze River is a high cliff. The space for the river narrows dramatically at this point, and the water must back up into a large bay before plunging through the difficult passage. Rocks underneath are treacherous, and even today boats find it difficult to negotiate this stretch.
At the crown of the cliff is the Temple of the White King, in honor of a man from ancient times. Numerous historical events took place here. In medieval times, a famous strategist was able to defeat an entire army with a much smaller force. Later, famous poets found inspiration from the high view of the river and mountains. In more recent times, the high cliff served as the headquarters of a warlord.
There are places in nature that can give people great power, but the character of the individuals determines whether the power is used for war or peace. It is not enough to struggle for vantage points. Position must be used with wisdom.
“One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider our problems, can change our whole outlook on the work.” — Elton Mayo
“A wider or more altruistic attitude is very relevant in today’s world. If we look at the situation from various angles, such as the complexity and inter-connectedness of the nature of modern existence, then we will gradually notice a change in our outlook, so that when we say ‘others’ and when we think of others, we will no longer dismiss them as something that is irrelevant to us. We will no longer feel indifferent.” — Dalai Lama
“See the Divine in everyone. Eschew hatred and ill will. After years of devotion, many still lack a broad outlook and an all-encompassing love.” — Sri Sathya Sai Baba
“The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.” — Bertrand Russell
There are many ways of using position and power. You can use it to help yourself and your cronies, or you can use it to help everyone regardless of their own power and influence. There are many ways to use the advantages of a natural position. You can protect it and maintain it, or you can squander its resoureces and let it decline. We’ve seen examples of both of these things in the last week – an administration that rewards it cronies, neglects its people, and squanders the advantageous position of a city by letting its protections decline to the point of failure. Holding a position without the wisdom to use that power well leads to corruption, chaos, and decline in a nation’s ability to care for its people and protect them from disaster.
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