non-violence

From Martin Luther King Jr. to Gandhi, social activists and world renown leaders have been practicing non-violence as a means of protest or in order to make a public statement for years. Non-violence is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary on one hand as simply the lack of violence. Also, it goes on to define it more elaborately as "the doctrine, policy, or practice of rejecting violence in favor of peaceful tactics as a means of gaining political objectives." Some may say non-violence corresponds directly to the definition of negative peace, or simply the lack of war, but there is much more behind non-violence than just that lack of violence, as I will later explain. The point is, though, that non-violence can be an effective way of dealing and succeeding in getting a point across in possibly violent situations.

Dr. Martin Luther King, in "The Meaning of Non-violence", describes the philosophy behind his non-violent tactics and why it is more than just the absence of violence. He describes it as a third method of dealing with oppression, after acquiescence which is a cowardly way out, and violent hatred, which would just escalate, and is morally inadequate.(mkgandhi) He said that he "believe(s) that nonviolence is the method that can achieve the ideals and goals and principles of the new age." (mkgandhi) But what exactly is non-violence? King goes on to make several points about the "undergirding philosophy" of it. (mkgandhi) First, the emans used to reach an end must be as pure as the ends desire to be reached. (mkgandhi) Immoral means cannot bring about a moral end, but moral means will most definetely bring about a moral end. (mkgandhi) Means and ends are inseparable in this way.
Secondly, at the heart of non-violence is the belief that injury should never be inflicted upon the opponent, known in Indian philosophy as ahimsa. Ahimsa, along with many of these beliefs, but especially ahimsa, is in direct agreement with the ideas and beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi as well. Now there are two different forms of practicing ahimsa, on =e being the obvious physical external violence that is avoided. But it also entails always moving closer to not hating your enemy. Eventually, the hope is, you will love your enemy not in the affectionate friend type of way, but you love your enemy because God loves you. That same kind of unconditional love that requires nothing in return is the key to effective non-violence. This is why Gandhi claims that one must have a strong faith in God to have a faith in practicing non-violence. (mkgandhi)
There have been numerous examples of effective non-violence being practicced as a means to get a point across or introducing ideas. From the trials and travels of Gandhi to the work of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.; from India to the U.S. to the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic and all over the world in less documented cases, non-violence has proved its worth as an effective means of stopping oppression and violence. The question is, can we translate that effectiveness to a means of stopping or at least slowing larger scale problems such as the wars that plague the world's countries today. It is yet to be seen, but it is certainly a possibility worth further exploration.

bibliography

"nonviolence." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 06 Nov. 2008. .


King, Martin Luther. "Peace, Non-violence, and Conflict Resolution." mkgandhi. 6 Nov 2008 .