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:

First, 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.

Martin Luther King, cont. Second, 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.

Martin Luther King, cont. 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

King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” 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”

Full text of King’s letter available here

Non-violent direct action in King’s letter Paragraphs 1 - 5: Every NVDA has

a context. Highlights the problems of insiders vs. outsiders

NVDA begs an analysis of true causes of injustice which give rise to the action

The steps of NVDA:Paragraphs 6 & 10 Collect the facts

How recent and how far back do the facts need to go?

Negotiate – NVDA is not the means or the goal initially Conflict resolution skills will matter! This is about the co-participation of the target

(the oppressor). We are trying to get them to change their choices and their behavior

The steps of NVDA, cont. Self-purification – People and

principles coming together (also training for direct actions!)

Action – Be clear about means and ends, and clear about accepting the consequences

Reading King’s letter Paragraphs 7 and 9 - Here are

some of the facts Paragraph 8 - Here’s purification

and training

Reading King’s letter (cont.) Paragraphs 10-11 - Comments on

direct action - there cannot be conciliation unless there is confrontation

Paragraph 12-13: Now we face a problem when people disagree about the style of confrontation & the burden of history

Paragraphs 14 – 21:Doctrine of Civil Disobedience How and why to advocate law-

breaking For now we’ll accept your definition

of what is the “law” and what is the acceptable way to challenge it

But here is our logic: We have an obligation to disobey an unjust law.

Doctrine of Civil Disobedience (cont.) And, consistent with Gandhi, we

prepare for and then manifest the willingness to accept the consequences,

So that those who enforce it have a crisis of conscience about the law’s legitimacy and they begin to pursue the truth of what to believe about the law and the segregation system

Paragraphs 22-25:Justice Dimensions of NVDA Our action is serious because the

“offense”, i.e. injustice, is serious Paragraph 22: We have a problem

with those who say that they are “moderate” on these issues. A great quote: “Shallow understanding

from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.” (MLK)

Violence and extremism Paragraphs 24-25 - Did we

precipitate violence? Paragraphs 26-30 - How do we want

to define extremism? Includes some notes of the tensions within the Black community in the 1960s and comments on the link between injustice, extremism, and repression

Violence and extremism (cont.) Paragraphs 31-32 – Again, the issue of

moderation and his disappointment in white moderates

Note comment on Spring Hill College Paragraphs 33-43: The challenge to the

Christian Churches and its meaning Is there a “social gospel”? Can

“institutional church” respond to injustice?

Important issue with the Church Go back to our “What is peace”

presentation from earlier in this course King had the global view of a race-free

society His local groups were two and different,

yet defining: the Negro community; and his Christian church/clergy

The meeting point: Marching off to the mountain top, the promised land, etc.

What is peace? Paragraphs 44-47: Peace as order vs.

peace as tensions that are trying to resolve injustice. Note comments on police

How do intentions and actions relate to one another and to the wider issues

Reiteration of the importance of self-suffering

Reconnecting with key group: the church