"Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye (1995)
Author: Naomi Shihab Nye
Shihab Nye, Naomi. “Kindness.” Poems for Reflecting on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict, Moving Traditions, 14 May 2021, www.movingtraditions.org/poems-for-reflecting/.
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Naomi Shihab Nye was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father was a Palestinian refugee and her mother was an American of German and Swiss descent. She spent her teen years in Jerusalem and San Antonio Texas. She has received many honors and awards for her work, including the Ivan Sandrof Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Robert Creeley Prize, among others. Listen to Nye read this poem here.
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
What makes it possible to connect these disconnected regions? It is dialogue in the true sense of the word, that is “mutual vulnerability”.
Let’s engage in a conversation about the potential power and pitfalls of dialogue within the realms of both fiction and non-fiction content.
In the cosmos of fictional narratives, the counter-argument can be demonstrated through a character challenging the main protagonist’s thoughts or actions. Ultimately, this would breed tension and conflict, making the narrative enrapturing, holding the reader’s interest. Suppose we take your claim about dialogue being a means of ‘mutual vulnerability.’ In that case, a riveting counter-argument could arrive through a character who firmly and credibly believes that dialogue, instead of unifying, can further trigger discord and vulnerability when misused or misunderstood.
Alternatively, a twist within the plotline might present a different perspective that undermines the protagonist’s beliefs or actions. For instance, the story might suddenly reveal that the dialogue perceived as a bonding agent had undercurrents of deceit or manipulation, forcing the main character to reassess their beliefs. Such instances create another layer of unpredictability which translates to increased story depth and complexity.
Relating to a non-fiction text brings another landscape of discussion.
So, why bother with counter-arguments? Understanding counter-arguments enables readers to view the subject without a tunnel vision. It compels them to question the text they read, promoting an open-dialogue mindset even in solo reading sessions.
Now, consider your text, particularly the section on “mutual vulnerability.” Here’s a strong counter-argument: “Dialogue, while can be a tool of connection, could equally serve as a weapon of manipulation, fostering false vulnerability and trust”. This statement directly challenges your claim and invites readers to reconsider their thoughts.
As we delve into evidence supporting the counter-argument, scholars might use real-life examples, psychological studies about communication, and historical events where dialogues resulted in misunderstanding and conflict.
To access reliable sources to explore these counter-arguments, use of academic databases like JSTOR or PubMed, and reputable news outlets known for thorough fact-checking can be helpful. Also,books written by acclaimed authors on the subject or first-hand accounts in biographies and memoirs provide useful insights.
With this counter-argument in mind, take your turn. Re-read the text. Maybe the landscape isn’t as desolate as it initially seemed? Reflect upon the counter-arguments and share your thoughts.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
From
Words Under the Words: Selected Poems(1995) by Naomi Shihab Nye
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