Conflict There Is a Difference

Conflict

There is a difference between the individual action and corporate action. The difference arises from the inherent nature of the actor as an individual and the corporation as an actor. The relationship of the actor and corporation to sin is also different, thus conversion is articulated differently for both entities. Entrenched structural and practical considerations limit the scope of corporate conversion. For the individual personal and familiar challenges, become an impediment. The path to conversion is therefore different for the individual and the corporation. The corporation has a greater challenge demonstrating and creating conversion than the individual.

The conversion of the individual requires that the person accept the existence of sin as a motivating force in their life. This sin may be considered "original sin" that has passed from the action of Adam and Eve unto the human family. There is no escape from the effect of original sin on the lives of humans. Original sin is pervasive. It intrudes into all the crevices of human endeavor and pollutes everything that it meets. Consequently, it is possible for actions to appear good and noble but be vile and corrupt because of the influence of sin on the motives of the actor. The nature of original sin makes conversion difficult for the individual but not impossible.

The corporation is beset by the problem of creating collective action. The creation of collective action is hampered by structural and systemic considerations within the corporation. If the corporation is to change or be converted, it has to overcome entrenched structures that form the basis of the division of power, and privilege within the corporation. The powerful within the corporation are often opposed to the creation of change since change will affect their fortunes and positions (Hodges). The change must be generated from the ranks of the very persons least likely to have the capacity to create the necessary change.

Sin manifests itself as injustice and unfairness within the corporation. Over time, unjust and unfair practices become calcified as part of the structure and are considered as normal. When these practices are resisted, the corporation responds in a myriad of ways but most often, the change is resisted. The path of conversion for the corporation passes through conflict and struggle (King Jr.). This requires many years to become fruitful.

Individuals can change easier than corporations can. Individual conversion does not require that they go against the established structures. It may at times create hostility within the family and self, but the impact of the decision is usually personalized. The decision, and hence conversion, will not generally influence the structures. Immoral persons may decide to become moral or act in moral ways. The social structure is not affected by this personal decision. The potential for greater impact only occurs when the numbers of persons changing is significant to threaten the structure.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is an enduring and complicated conflict. The Jewish people, trace their right to the land back to biblical times, and as a result have staked a claim on the land. The United Nations partitioning of the land in 1947 served to inflame the situation and precipitated war. The Jews with the aid of the United States were victorious in the ensuing war. They then increased the size of the state creating further acrimony. The Palestinians have never the Jewish version of history and desire to have all the land returned to them. This conflict is intractable and there is little hope of a resolution in the immediate future.

In applying Reinhold Niebuhr's Christian realism to the conflict summarized above it should be noted that Niebuhr was a Zionist who strongly supported the right of Israel to occupy the land and defend itself. His Christian realism combines there elements of realism, political realism, moral realism and theological realism (Moseley 23). Thus, the conflict must be understood firstly as a problem on sin in the lives of the inhabitants of the area. The groups involved will firstly need to understand their action as a product of a sinful experience (Inboden). They should be prepared to act in moral and right way toward their fellow men. The Jews should be prepared to live peacefully with the Palestinians as an expression of this moral position. Unfortunately, the Palestinian position may not allow this to occur so that a pragmatic decision must be made as to how to live in that situation.

Each party in the conflict is motivated by self-interest (Hodges). The self-interest is corrupted by the politics of power and the exigencies of sin. Thus, the position taken by Israel or the Palestinians is driven by self-interest that is counter to the interest of the other nation. This type of conflict is very difficult to resolve because it requires groups to act in ways that is against what they may consider to be in their best interest. Additionally, Israel has the benefit of military and political power on its side. Israel will not relinquish this advantage. The loss of the advantage places the country in a subservient, powerless position. This is unacceptable to the Israeli people. The powerful must be forced to relinquish power they will not relent voluntarily.