Know your enemy and know yourself: Pledge for Afghanistan
Germany's social media legend Najib Karim recently shared a fundraising appeal for former on-site UN employees in Afghanistan. After the United Nations left the country, they were left behind in their home country without (m)any prospects for the future under the ruling Taliban regime.
Since all my credit cards haven't been activated due to my own fault and I would have to take care of this first, I have given Karim my written word that my donation with full name and amount will definitely be made as soon as the activation of my cards has been done.
What stratagem do I use against myself to ensure that I will keep my word?
Number 35: “The chain stratagem”. Here, several stratagems are processed in a sequence towards a common goal (Senger 2004: 697-778).
By giving my written word to Najib Karim, I apply stratagem 22: “Close the door and catch the thief”. So I create a situation that leaves me with no exit (Senger 2004: 251-283).
By additionally assuring that my donation will be made in full name and amount instead of anonymously, the inverse of stratagem 20 comes into play: not "Fishing in murky waters", but "Fishing in clear waters". This reinforces stratagem 22 because, by being transparent, I am expressly refraining from all the exit strategies that would otherwise be available to me to dilute my promise.
I prevent this way stratagem 19, ?Steal the firewood from under the pot“, that I end up making no donation or one around 1 pound (Senger 2004: 71-155).
Last but not least, I apply stratagems 36 and 3: Number 36, “Running away is the best stratagem”, represents my tactical retreat: I have to settle some issues first, for which I need some time. And this one I give myself before I'm going to attack again and fulfill my promise (Senger 2004: 779-806).
Furthermore, number 3, “Killing with a borrowed knife”. Since Najib Karim now has my promise, he has the authority to exert pressure on me after a certain grace period to ensure that the promised benefit is actually provided (Leonhardt 2024b).
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Why am I doing this?
Because I know myself and I know that otherwise I will have forgotten the Afghan UN workers in need by tomorrow morning at the latest.
So, know your enemy and know yourself.
In this case, I'm both.
And then there's also the matter of stratagem 8: ?Openly repair the walkway, secretly march to Chencang”. In doing so, you're carrying out an obviously unusual action, while in reality you're pursuing quite ordinary goals (Senger 1993: 109-122).
In my case, dear reader, that would be to get your attention to the issue of helping Afghanistan. Because my donated 20 quids alone won't make a difference. But combined with your 20 quids, together we are twice as strong.
Just a proposal.
Sources:
#36stratagems