On the other hand, positive examples of refusing to validate another's ill intention.
1. Starhawk's book, "The Fifth Sacred Thing", wherein an enlightened society chooses to confront a violent invader with non-violence, saying "there is a place for you at our table, if you will join us". Invading soldiers break down after killing children who say this to them, and the invasion collapses. Sounds harsh, and takes incredible training and bravery, but this has worked in history. (Though a debating friend calls it "passive-aggressive bull****").
2. Smiling genuinely at someone who wanted to fight, while surrounded by a circle of his friends. The strength to smile and calmly decline to fight, came only from assuming that the would-be fighter had a spark of good will inside. This confrontation faded when another in the circle said, "come on, man, he's cool", and they left me alone. What would have been my facial expression if I had assumed pure ill will, and what would have been the outcome?
3. All the nonviolent resistance movements which have succeeded by assuming a spark of good will among the oppressors.
Blessings,
Aronaya
