This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Working Title: Slap My Left Cheek Too: From YKTTW
Antheia: I'm not sure about the following:
- It should be noted, however, that back during that time, slapping a person one way was insulting, but slapping the other way is respectful. It just so happens that forcing the person to slap the other cheek after being insult slapped forces the other person to give (a grudging) respect.
That interpretation doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the text (which clearly says to always give more than asked or demanded). Does anybody know more on the subject?
Nornagest: I was wondering about that myself. I am not a scholar of early Roman Judea by any means, but the story has an urban-legend kind of aura about it.
Aoede: Since this is not the Other Wiki, I assume that we can't just throw it out for lack of a good source?
Ikkin: The Other Wiki is a source, actually, and the interpretation explains all three parts. Turning the other cheek would make it impossible to backhandedly slap you without using the "unclean" left hand (and an open-handed slap would be a challenge as an equal), stripping someone completely is forbidden so they can't take your cloak, and a Roman soldier would get in trouble if he let someone carry his pack for more than a mile.
Betaalpha: Interesting parallels between this trope and restorative justice, though not enough to link it as a Real Life example. Forgiveness of offenders is an important element of restorative justice as part of the healing process. The forgiveness, however, is at least as much for the benefit of the victim as for the offender. Not enough of an example because much of restorative justice is about the offender making amends as part of seeking forgiveness, whereas Turn the Other Cheek (I think) is a kind of pre-emptive forgiveness, possibly leading to the offender making amends.
Ryvaken: Regardless, shouldn't that be cause for renaming the trope, since the tropenamer isn't actually the trope?
