The sentence in Clarence Page’s column “Promise Keepers echo the Million Man March” (Op-Ed, Sept. 7) that struck a chord with me was: “Regardless of the location, there is nothing wrong with us men going off for a few hours to find ourselves, as long as we return to the larger world with a new sense of how men and women can work more effectively as partners, not competitors for dominance over the other.”
It seems that every human being, by nature, is competitive. Being competitive is the one common thread that seems to run through all humanity. It has been said “to decide not to, is to decide.” By the same token, to decide not to compete is to compete.
Every group mentioned by Page is highly competitive. They just don’t like to use the word because it has an aggressive air that tends to turn people off. “Competition” probably has more euphemisms than “death.”
A fanatic was once described as a person who redoubles his efforts after he has lost sight of his goal. Many movements have a tendency to fit that description. No margin for error, zero tolerance, ever onward, hellbent for election.
Kindness, understanding, cooperation, acceptance and humility are not signs of weakness. But as one looks around our world through the eyes of the media, we see people, nations, organizations, fighting (accepted euphemism for competing) for land, jobs, recognition, acceptance and whatever else seems necessary for the good life.
The thing we have going for us–and we must never forget it–is that men and women are, by definition, “rational animals.” We must hope that is an accurate definition. If not, we’re in deep trouble.
