Chapter 33
In a chain of events the board of Dutch Aikido without consulting its members has decided to terminate my membership and to force the organization I am member of to terminate my membership as well. All of this is based on the claims that my blog is slanderous and damaging to the federation. In consequence this would remove me from every formal relationship to Aikido without any due process.
While it is challenging to respond to this extreme measure with equal aggression, I have consulted many friends on the matter. Much to my surprise there are many who feel that despite the chain of events I should consider removing the parts that are upsetting for Dutch Aikido. Many believe this will entice Dutch Aikido to revoke their decision.
This in fact creates a moral challenge for me. While I am convinced that everything I have written is true, and I stand by each letter, I find it difficult to retract any part of it. At the same time, if I can find no way to take a step
back in a conflict, the saying would apply: if you’re not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem.
As a consequence I have asked myself what arguments I can find to remove parts of the blog, and I have come to the following conclusions:
– While my complaint is that I have not received fair hearing by Dutch Aikido, in some sense the same applies to my accusations. No matter what my view on their actions is, the blog is not a platform where they have the opportunity to present their case. The fact that they have responded with a lawyer and termination of my membership may be unreasonable measures, but that does not change the fact a blog is not a form of fair hearing.
– In a conflict where there is no way out, one party will have to make the gesture of taking a step back. Perhaps this could be perceived as conceding to (further) intimidation but not doing anything will be perceived as unwillingness to compromise anyway. Therefore it seems better to make a positive gesture and accept the consequences of that choice.
Therefore, in the following days I will be removing parts of my blog, with the goal of creating an opportunity for parties involved to reconsider their choices. Feel free to let me know what you think of that choice.
