Passive Resistance: Nonviolence
Passive Resistance: Nonviolence Mahatma Gandhi, the originator of “Practice of Passive Resistance”, or “Soul-force”, used nonviolence to solve problems. He believed that the practice of Satyagraha can use love to forget and forgive. The pain of suffering was not the true problem when it came to fighting for justice. Similarly, with the idea of suffering for one’s desire of freedom, the people of Republic of China also used hunger strike and nonviolence for the Tiananmen Square protest to present Gandhi’s idea of satyagraha. Gandhi, also known as the “Father of India”, was the first to discover the idea of passive resistance. Passive resistance stands for the modern nonviolence, which is the idea of using love to suffer for one’s desire of freedom. This idea is convey your idea towards the opponent in hope of a good outcome. He believes that, “The use of this force requires the adoption of poverty, in the sense that we must be indifferent whether we have the wherewithal to feed or clothe ourselves” (446). The main point behind this passage is to use nonviolence to fight for what one dare to believe in. No one can be a perfect passive resister, but to start off we must ban ourselves from violence.
The meaning of Satyagraha is to insist of truth and love-force. Gandhi stated, “We cannot remedy evil by harbouring ill-will against evil-doer. This is not difficult of comprehension; it is easy enough to understand.”(446) Using the power of love or truth can help to convince the evil-doers to stop and listen. Violence will not solve anything; rather it makes the situation worse. Speaking the truth and having a loving heart will do good deeds, which is what the passive resisters believe in. In a place where people learn to treat each other equally and with respect, is where peace can be found. Gandhi mentioned, “When the law of satyagraha is applied to provincial life, and the people inhabiting a province regulate their relations by love rather than by hatred”
The meaning of Satyagraha is to insist of truth and love-force. Gandhi stated, “We cannot remedy evil by harbouring ill-will against evil-doer. This is not difficult of comprehension; it is easy enough to understand.”(446) Using the power of love or truth can help to convince the evil-doers to stop and listen. Violence will not solve anything; rather it makes the situation worse. Speaking the truth and having a loving heart will do good deeds, which is what the passive resisters believe in. In a place where people learn to treat each other equally and with respect, is where peace can be found. Gandhi mentioned, “When the law of satyagraha is applied to provincial life, and the people inhabiting a province regulate their relations by love rather than by hatred”
Cited: Gandhi, Mahatma. “The Theory and Practice of Passive Resistance.”Cultural Conversation: The Presence of the Past. Eds. Stephen Dils, Regina Hansen, Matthew Parfitt. Boston:Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. 445-447.Print. Gandhi, Mahatma. “Meaning of Satygraha.”Cultural Conversation: The Presence of the Past. Eds. Stephen Dils, Regina Hansen,Matthew Parfitt. Boston:Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. 447-449.Print. Gandhi, Mahatma. “The Law of Suffering.”Cultural Conversation: The Presence of the Past. Eds. Stephen Dils, Regina Hansen, Matthew Parfitt. Boston:Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. 451-453.Print. Gandhi, Mahatma. “The Doctrine of the Sword I and II.”Cultural Conversation: The Presence of the Past. Eds. Stephen Dils, Regina Hansen, Matthew Parfitt. Boston:Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. 453-456.Print. Latif, Iqbal. "Milton Friedman Produced Millions of Millions of Tank Men." Global Politician: News, Interviews, Opinions and Analysis. Web. 04 May 2011. . Tolstoy, Leo. “Letter to Gandhi.”Cultural Conversation: The Presence of the Past. Eds. Stephen Dils, Regina Hansen, Matthew Parfitt.Boston:Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. 464-466.Print.