Polemics

I never knew this word until I came to France, arguably the heartland of “la polémique”. The American Heritage dictionary defines it as follows:
1. A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.
2. A person engaged in or inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation.
adj. also po·lem·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) Of or relating to a controversy, argument, or refutation.
[French polémique, from Greek polemikos, hostile, from polemos, war.]

One of the most memorable occasions I heard it used was regarding one of my first translations of Dan’s articles (I’ll let you find which one, and why). The article is indeed polemical and perhaps not the stuff the neophyte tai chi chuanist would be interested in. I realized then, however, that polemic is an important part of our civilized, intellectual lives and that as with most things, it’s a question of how much is too much. Being a good Taoist, I would of course recommend that polemic, like many other intoxicants, be taken in moderation.

Sadly this was and is not the case concerning the recent “Tai Chi Europa 2006” (*sighs*). I suppose the hullabaloo was entirely predictable, and certainly won’t die down or even trail away quietly. No, this show is set to run and run.

For those that don’t know the story, here’s a potted version. Every 2 years the Tai Chi Federation of Europe (TCFE) runs a competition. So far there have been 3, of which I have attended 2. There’s always lots of polemic and lots of polemics, but in general it all gets done and we have a good time. The organizing principle is that the host country submits proposed rules and formats to the TCFE board and everyone discusses, disputes and finally agrees (sometimes on the very morning of the competition). That’s what didn’t happen this time, with the management of the French federation vociferously twisting history and maintaining not only the “French Exception” but also showing how this country was more or less happily able to run a fascist dictatorship in collaboration with the Nazis. I don’t mince my words – I’ve seen the e-mails, reports and articles, and heard most sides of the arguments. So, since the French fede did not work to agree, the TCFE withdrew their sponsorship of the event and the French went ahead with a different name.

For a number of years now, a group of friends and acquaintances from different disciplines have been developing their refereeing skills, generally under the aegis of the French federation. Dan was invited over last May for his input, along with Cornelia and Albert. All to no avail: the people in question, when the rules and formats they thought were agreed were ignored, modified or ditched, resigned en masse. This group of merry rebels went on to form an unofficial grouping that is now set to become an association. They are concerned essentially with pushing hands competition.

Although I don’t referee, and I don’t want to (generally disliking rules and being quite into a bit of healthy polemos), I sided with the rebels. I even wrote a hand-written letter in support (the Masters and Mistresses of the French Tai Chi Universe didn’t recognize that an email could have more than 1 signatory). And the polemical pendulum has been swinging like mad. Dear Eric went out of his way to attend the event and give us (the rebels) his report. Immediately his efforts were fire-bombed by vitriol from his own side; friendly fire as it were. The emails before and since the competition have been long, confusing, torrid affairs, tortuously twisting through point after dotted line, and IMHO typically missing the point.

Because in the end, the “truth” is subjective and most polemics are simply wasting all our time, trying to convince others of their own, subjective “truth”. We’re all wrong and we’re all right. There is a minimum of necessary discourse for organizations of people to function together. At some point there comes a gray area where one starts to scratch one’s head and wonder if anything will get done amidst the flurries of words. And then sometimes it goes beyond that. The polemic surrounding Tai Chi Europa 2006 has pushed me personally to completely disinvest in the political processes of Tai Chi Chuan. Before I felt some minimum pleasantry was necessary. Now, frankly, I just don’t want to know. As they say “à chacun sa merde”.