THINQon : On not compromising

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Edna Stern

On not compromising

Latest Post: December 8, 2010 at 8:17 AM

87 followers

This morning I woke up and as usual went on the internet to read the news and look at some new posts on thinqon. I found that Juri's post was a breath of fresh air and an important reminder to not forget the essential, the reason why we do things - hopefully a combination of passion and belief.

It also reminded me of a story I was just told last week after a concert I gave in Hamburg, about Moritz Abraham Stern, the German mathematician who was the first Jew to be appointed professor in Germany and who refused to change his religion for that purpose (as Jews weren't appointed as professors). Apparently he had to wait many years till he was appointed because of his choice, unlike many who changed their religion and got their advancement sooner. It's not that I think it wrong to change one religion with another, obviously it is all a question of the personal relation to one's religion, but it is important to know that one can be uncompromising about things one considers essential in life and still win against all odds. I was also (naturally) delighted that his name was Stern, though that's beside the point:-)

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Juri Pavlov

November 13, 2010 at 5:21 PM

12 followers

Edna, now that you have mentioned me in your post – my incentive to contribute something to this thread has skyrocketed – just kidding ;)

Actually the topic really resonates with me.

In my opinion one has to have a certain granite core of principles and values which should not or at least not after a fair amount of contemplation be subjected to a compromise. There are several examples that come to mind but they are all somewhat controversial. Still, I think that if one does start making compromises pertaining to the core of one’s own self it is the beginning of the end. For if you don’t hesitate to give up a part of what makes you you then there will be no you left in the end. I see an analogy to lying. The first lie is difficult but the more you lie the easier it gets. Eventually you wind up alone and miserable.

ted berryman tagged this post as Insightful.

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david ELISHA

November 14, 2010 at 2:05 AM

19 followers

Your post reminds me that Menuhin said about his mother: this woman of strong character had chosen his first name (Yehudi, as you know, means Jew in Hebrew) for he never forgets his origines.He also said: "I am convinced that music can bring people together and heal."
I think Menuhin remained faithful throughout his life to this belief and this humanism that he has stubbornly opposed to the intolerance of all kinds (for example after the war he defended Wilhelm Furtwängler, who was accused of having collaborated with the Nazis and did a concert in Berlin with him).

This reminds me also this great quote from Voltaire:"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Faced with intolerance, bigotry, injustice, there is no compromise possible. Never.
That's what makes human dignity.

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John barri

November 14, 2010 at 10:19 AM

35 followers

Brings to mind the 'serenity prayer' which I knew of as the alcoholics prayer,

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

(the short form)

Isn't it thus with principles and compromise, 'don't compromise on that which is important , dismiss that which is unimportant and to have the wisdom to know the difference'.

A lot of bigotry is inexorably bound up in failing to compromise on trivia and then somehow losing the big picture and failing in important issues. The English expression 'penny wise and pound foolish' probably epitomises that trap.