http://www.infowars.com/images/salt2.jpg
Mahatma Gandhi, through satyagraha, experimented with peaceful means of fighting for civil rights, discovering the strength of nonviolence. Satyagraha was the nonviolent, yet active path of civil disobedience against unjust oppression by making the evil side aware of its fault. When would satyagraha be used? Gandhi stressed that only as a last resort should the strong weapon of satyagraha be wielded for the cause. The cause had to be worthy of it, and the people worthy of committing to it. Gandhi's strategic use of satyagraha made the world aware of India's struggle against Britain, which by threatening to tarnish Britain's reputation, achieved success. Would satyagraha work in other countries and other time periods? Although Gandhi's nonviolence was not always followed during his lifetime, Gandhi was a model for many future civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King JR., for example is a man who spoke of his admiration for Gandhi. He, with peaceful protests and boycotts, succeeded in helping the black community gain equal rights. Not only did Gandhi's use of satyagraha liberate India, but provided a blueprint for other civil rights movements and immortalizes him as one of the greatest and most influential leaders of the world.
The harder question is, under what conditions does it work? Which is really the flip side of another question: when is violence justified?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, is that a real picture? It looks kind of photoshopped.
Not that you photoshopped it, that is, but I'm wondering if the original source did it.
ReplyDelete