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Old 12-28-2009, 07:22 PM   #55
RED
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 909
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Re: Fact or Fiction (of Morihei Ueshiba's Life)

Quote:
Michael Hackett wrote: View Post
Maggie,

Take a look at "Dueling with O Sensei" by Ellis Amdur. Ueshiba O Sensei was, at least to me, a very complex character who demonstrated some noble traits as well as demonstrating some ignoble traits. He was a brilliant martial artist who could do some amazing things, but he was, in the end, just a man and perhaps had feet of clay.

We look at him today from the lens of our western heritage and sometimes forget that he and the others of his time were the product of their culture. I personally question that he was some selfless man of integrity and unquestioned virtue. I'm not sure that the concepts of integrity and virtue were defined in pre-war Japan in any way I can understand today. I doubt that we will ever know as the myths and truths have become terribly enmeshed into some amalgam of oral history. Then again, maybe I'm full of crap.
Of course, he was human.
I recall stories expressing his great acts of charity. I also recall stories of him ruthlessly screaming at his wife unjustly because he was uneasy .
He was an obsessive compulsive man. That trait led to both extremes.
The humanity is striking. However, his professed intention is also striking.

Humans can be remarkable, and flawed.

Last edited by RED : 12-28-2009 at 07:28 PM.

MM
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