The way I see it you almost always have a choice...
Often I hear people say that they don't have a choice... Often I don't agree to that.
This is why:
An extreme but clarifying example came to me one day when I was watching a wardocumentary about the occupation of the Dutch islands.
The reporter was asking an old man why there was no or almost no resistance on the islands. The man replied: "because we had no choice". The reporter asked what he meant and the old man explained that since the islands were so small, everybody knew everything about one another. When you would stand up to the invaders, someone would talk to them, and you would be executed next morning. The reporter said he understood.
I, on the other hand, was shocked. Not by the fact that the man was afraid to be executed in case he would resist, but by the realisation that in case things get hot, people deny their choice and responsibility. At that moment, I thought: "you bastard!!" Again, not for the fact that he chose to live safely, in stead of standing up for what he believed, thereby risking his life, but by the fact that he was convinced that he did not have the choice between the two options.
I have since been wondering what it is that makes people deny their own choice. In the above example the options are clear: 1) you shut up and live quietly under the invaders' rule, or 2) you fight and likely die. It is a difficult choice, I admit, but it IS a choice. Choosing to do something that might kill you is a choice too.
Another thing I wonder about, is the fact that NOT making a choice is also a choice. Choosing to NOT take responsibility for what you do or not do, is also a choice. The reason, be it fear, confusion, uncertainty etc... for not making a conscious choice does by no means take away the choice itself.
o_d
o_d
