Interestingly, this takes that quote out of the original context (as usual). Slapping someone with the back of the hand on the right cheek was done to assert dominance by a social superior over a lesser in the society at the time. “Turn the other cheek” meant to present the left cheek, meaning that the person attempting to assert dominance had one of two choices–use the palm of the right hand… or the back of the left.
Now, hitting someone with the back of the unclean left hand was taboo.
But hitting someone with the palm of the right hand was done between social equals, not a superior to a lesser.
So this was not stoicism, this was really entertaining civil disobedience. Similar instructions for passively subverting civil order are found in the next two passages–Matthew 5:40 and 5:41. Specifically the “coat and shirt” and “the extra mile”, both by engaging in malicious compliance with the laws of the Roman Empire… with a twist.
Matthew 5:40 “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well,” is essentially saying “cause an incident of public nudity in a culture with a strong nudity taboo and make it the fault of the person claiming the debt”.
Matthew 5:41 “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” The law in the Roman Empire at the time was that a soldier could compel a non-citizen to carry their pack (60 lbs of gear) for the duration of 1 milepost. So this is saying, “if the legionnaire tells you to carry his pack for a mile, instead of complaining… carry it for two… and make him ask for it back before he gets in trouble with the centurion.”
So this would really only work if the slapper bought into that social taboo. Or the society did, at any rate. If they felt no shame at doing this, all you’d get is another slapped face. The problem is that in a society without that, your enemy would feel nothing about slapping you again and everyone else would be thinking “Why didn’t the dickhead either slap him back or just keep his head down?”
I’m not big on giving people a free second chance at hurting me.
Now that is a top example of applied passive-aggressiveness. [quote=“bibliophile20, post:61, topic:96520”]
"If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
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Ahh. Not about flogging off a bunch of newly-acquired army surplus then. I’d see something like that as “Not only do I now have a free tent and wine, but some Roman squaddie is gonna be freezing his arse off tonight, LOL.” A win-win.
But the historical perspective is pretty cool. Thanks for that.
Social reinforcement–especially in front of one’s peers–is a wonderful reinforcement mechanism. But, yeah, all three are basically the same degree of applied passive-aggressiveness.
Nah, that’d get you killed by the Romans, and in a lingerly painful way. But making the soldier anxious about being caught “slacking” by the centurion? Ooooh boy.
