Organized Violence

The New Yorker magazine recently published an article on the Military History Museum now under construction in Dresden, Germany. The design, by Daniel Libeskind, slices a new structure through the center of an older building that once served as a military garrison.

The museum's scientific director, Gorch Pieken, has had to respond to many critics of the design:

People say, "The old building was nice." But I say, "German history isn't nice."

He goes on to say that the museum will focus on the effects of organized violence on the individual and society, an admirable goal in the face of Germany's history.

But . . .

Organized violence? Does this mean that there's something known as "disorganized violence?"

I don't think so. It seems to me that violence, by its very nature, arises from an organizing principle. This is true for individuals, as well as nation-states.

Although the Buddha didn't use the word "violence" to describe the harm we inflict on ourselves and others, he did look deeply into the organizing principles that produce this harm:  the three poisons of anger, desire and ignorance.

When we reflect on our own lives, we can sometimes sense how these poisons create a heedless momentum to our actions. We might even see the poisons as the intentions behind our actions.

Given the great suffering in this world, I'm all for careful study of how we perpetuate violence.

A dramatic building might illuminate a society's organizing principles. A small cushion might illuminate our own.

Comments

[Genju]

Beautifully said, Barry. I can't help but notice that the upside down pyramid reflects your post of yesterday. ;-)

[Steve]

Here's some interesting reading

http://article.nationalreview.com/310772/the-dalai-lamas-army/dave-kopel

[puerhan]

A dramatic building might well illuminate otherwise hidden principles... but at the same time I just wonder if it actually *releases* the hidden or actually fuels is more! "Violent buildings" (as Libeskind's tend to be!) to my mind do not necessary provide a space to honestly and openly approach such issues. But then maybe they do by bring it out into physical form...

_/\_

[Barry Briggs]

Good catch, Genju!

Thanks for the interesting - provocative - article, Steve. The history of Buddhism includes a little-known history of conflict, not all of which was defensive in nature. And all of which was/is organized.

Puerhan, I don't know much about Libeskind's work and we'll see if his Dresden museum project provokes hostility and rage, or illuminates it instead. Buildings can provoke strong feelings, even if not always pleasant ones. I fear that the response to the Dresden museum addition may be mostly intellectual - in the head - rather than at the emotional, in-the-heart level. Violence ultimately arises from the heart's distress and a building that could reveal that . . . well, that would be something!

[Suzanne]

Anger, desire, ignorance...and don't forget mental illness, or "disorganisation". Some problems are insoluble.

[mama p]

I really, really enjoyed this post, Barry. And I love the thoughtfulness in the design of this building. I too wonder how the poetry of it will carry out... A second look and I think it sort of resembles a large ship cutting through a building, which if you don't know the proper context, is kinda funny... It's all about proper context, in'nit? ;)