Clingman page 1
Borders of Non-Violent Resistance
When I think about violence towards another human being, I start thinking about the consequences that are going to come about afterwards and then I start thinking, what's the point? That's probably why I have never been a fight in my life, physically that is. I look at all these people on TV or in the media "standing up for what they believe in", but where do you draw the line from getting violent to get your beliefs across to just taking the calm approach? In today's society if you want to be heard, you either have to blow up a building, kill several thousand people or get violent in some other way. Right now in the world today, I can not think of one person in the media that is currently standing for what they believe in without getting violent. It seems like everybody I think of is in the past. Take Mohandas K. Gandhi for instance. He was a man that lived a long time ago that had many borders to cross to get his point across to people. He faced many challenges, lots of oppression and tyranny, but he never raised his fist in a thought of violence. Because he was so loved by the people, everyone started to follow his ways and eventually stopped the violence and stood up and showed their beliefs in more peaceful ways without fighting. This is a man that should be the ideal role model for society when we think about going to war. I'm not just talking about war with other countries; I'm talking about war with our words towards others and war with our actions when we get frustrated or angry with other people. A really poignant quote that stood in my mind that came straight from Gandhi
's mouth in
Clingman page 2
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