ACTION, NOT REACTION

The American company IBM was so advanced in the field of computers that it was called a “computer giant.” A few years ago, its executives mocked Japanese computer manufacturers by saying:

“When IBM sneezes, Japanese computer makers are blown away.” (Time, September 17, 1990)

If in India a Hindu were to make such a remark against Muslims, all the superficial leaders and third-rate newspapers of the Muslims would immediately protest, claiming that Muslim sentiments had been hurt and that the “administration” had failed in its duty. The Muslim public, provoked by this “incitement,” would become ready for confrontation. This would lead to communal riots, after which the Muslims of the country would fall even further behind.

But Japanese industrialists did not show anger at this “provocation.” Instead, they focused entirely on improving the quality of their computers. As a result, according to Time (September 17, 1990), Japan moved ahead of the whole world in the computer industry. Today, Japan is in such a position that the Japanese company Fujitsu announced its newest and largest computers could carry out 600 million instructions per second, while the best IBM computer could manage only 210 million instructions per second:

“Fujitsu said its largest new computer can perform up to 600 million instructions per second, compared with as many as 210 MIPS for IBM’s best.” (p. 47)

To flare up at provocation is called reaction. To ignore provocation and instead focus on building and strengthening oneself is called action. The law of life is that those who engage in “action” move forward, while those who remain caught in “reaction” end up destroyed.