Hawks and Doves

When folk learn that Rachel was a nurse, she gets told about their particular ailments because, ‘You’re a nurse so you understand…’ When folk learn I was a teacher, I’m told about their teachers who were poor or ineffective. I’m also told about ‘good’ teachers who are remembered either because they were respected, their classes were well disciplined, or because they took an interest and cared.

As teachers we often talked about balancing punishments and rewards… punishments that set boundaries, deter laziness or bad behaviour… rewards that recognise, praise and encourage all that’s good.

As I understand it, for over two hundred years ‘hawks and doves’ has described pro- and anti-war opinions and policies… hawks are associated with hunting and warfare, doves symbolize domesticity and peace.

Dave, a professional mathematician, uses ‘hawks and doves’ as a model in ‘game theory’ – taking me back to vague memories of my university maths… Apparently ‘hawks and doves’, contrasting proactive aggression with conciliatory peace, is also used in evolutionary theories and economic policies. Perhaps it could be used in teaching theories.

Our discussion turned to religion… religions that appear to be hawks, those that present as doves… aggressive compulsion contrasting with gentleness and peace. We mentioned Northern Ireland, American religion and politics, Muslim extremists…

Musing… Does history teach us that the only way to achieve peace is through war…? That to be doves we must first be hawks…? As parents… as teachers… as politicians… as people of faith?

…This morning, reading St Paul writing to a problematic, struggling, divided church: ‘What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?’ He’s saying: ‘Should I come as a hawk or a dove?’  

Later he describes love as ‘the most excellent way’, that without love ‘I am nothing’ and ‘I gain nothing’. I’m still musing.