Non-Violence

Peace as a Non-Violent Movement for Change

Thus far with non-violence…

• Some focus on the dimensions that inform personal positions
• Some debate about the “onus” of non-violence and its viability
• Now, some more focus on the use of non-violence - aimed at social change, dealing with repression/oppression, etc.

Note: watch for this in current events! (Zimbabwe, 2006-07?)

How this has worked:

Gandhi

• Satyagraha as the organizing principle
• “Truth force” or “soul force” as holding on to the truth (and searching for it)
• Action agenda: Refusal to do harm as a means of testing the search for truth
• Refusal to accept evil: Use self-sacrifice to discipline oneself, impress and focus target
• Aims at persuasion of the opponent, not defeat. The goal is mutual agreement
  

Martin Luther King

The pursuit of two fundamental truths:

1. All people are created equal under God and the U.S. Constitution. Segregation violates this: it is a misinterpretation of the law. In fact, it is a rejection of the law of the land that has stood since the 1870s. It has developed a series of unjust laws which must be rejected.  We seek agreement on this truth.
2. Segregation represses whites as well as Negroes, but in a more subtle and unconscious manner. Most terribly, it forces white Christians to violate the call to justice which is so central to the Gospel that they love. Our action will help to remove the cloud from their eyes.

• Principle - There is no peace, nor justice when rights are being violated. Some need to self-suffer for their own rights to bring peace and justice for all
• Plan of action - Varied; civil disobedience
• Disciplined leadership and participation
• Targets - Rather calculated

Other examples:

• 1980s Solidarity Movement in Poland
• 1986 - Forcing Marcos from office in the Philippines
• 1988 -The Palestinian Intifada
• 2000 forcing Milosevic from power
• Within US, various forms of civil disobedience - Anti-nuclear movement; some elements of the pro-life movement

Nonviolence for social change

• Principles - Those of the individuals but also an organizing scheme; the belief that will bind people to put themselves “on the line”
• Plan of action - Where nonviolence as principle and nonviolence as an action strategy meet
• Disciplined leadership and participation
• Particular set of targets

“Letter from the Birmingham Jail”

MLK's letter relates nonviolent direct action (NVDA) to issues of religious principle, racial justice and civil disobedience. It also tackles “critics” of NVDA and the problem of “moderates”