Recently, I was watching a Congressional hearing in which a member of the US House of representatives was questioning a well-respected expert, who was a witness. The questioner was aggressive, intimidating, harsh, bullying, combative, and regularly interrupted the witness, treating him as if he was some sort of an evil person and, possibly, even an enemy. Throughout the process, the witness himself remained reasonably calm and stuck to his testimony and area of expertise.
As I watched, I began to think that the witness, even though he was appearing publicly before Congress, did not have to accept such a behaviour. He had come to present his understanding of a certain situation and had the right to be addressed in a civil manner.
I imagined a response he could have given:
“Congressman, I would like you to consider the fact that I am a human being just as you are. We both breathe the same air, view the world with a pair of eyes, live on the same planet, and are members of the same family of humanity. As such, I believe I am entitled to the same dignity and courtesy that I will accord to you. “You have addressed me in an intimidating and hostile manner and have continually tried to put words in my mouth. People will hear the words you are attributing to me, and even though they are not mine, by mere juxtaposition, they will conclude that these represent my views. This is definitely not the case. In addition, what you have attributed to me is the kind of thing that has caused people to send death threats to me and my family. Your inferring that these are my ideas will exacerbate this situation. Is it your wish that members of my family or I be harassed or even killed?
This story is from the November 2021 edition of Life Positive.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2021 edition of Life Positive.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Freedom from Mind
As Suma Varughese embarks on freeing herself of the mind, she finds her allies in her inner Spiritual Warrior and her Vast Higher Self
BANYAN TREE
TEACHING STORY
Joie de vivre at Jeju Island
This month, we travel with Meghan to a beautiful island in South Korea, to see how the women have broken the mould to become the breadwinners of their families.
Be a Kitchen QUEEN
Learn how to make healthy dips, jam and sauces at home to perk up the flavours in your food and avoid buying off-the-counter products high on processed sugar and preservatives,
Embrace Mother Earth
Let's not forego the environmentally friendly practices that we adopted during the pandemic and continue to embrace them for the sake of a healthier and more livable planet
Lord Rama Shows The Way
Jarna Kantaria finds Lord Rama in her heart after reading the Ramayana and following the valuable lesson of accepting the inevitable, taught by Him through example
Find your gateway to happiness
Transformed by the grace of Nichiren Buddhism, Ashish Virmani stresses the importance of adopting a spiritual path on life's journey
Cultivating Vairagya
Vanitha Vaidialingam talks about how the scriptures guide us in gaining mastery over our desires, to live life with equanimity
Meet your Facilitators
Four special interviews curated just for you. Get to know your favourite facilitator through their insightful conversations with bright LP writers.
You Matter
A couple is in the middle of their rendezvous, when the boy announces that he will be travelling for a few days.