Chapter 4 of the book “Gandhi and Beyond” was pretty interesting and fascinating to read and learn about. One of the sections of the chapter that impacted me the most was the section titled Learning about Gandhi found on page 76. In this section, Chavez began to learn about Gandhi and his principles of nonviolence. Chavez admired Gandhi because of his success, his commitment, and his methods of nonviolence such as boycotting and fasting. In Gandhi Chavez found a leader who inspired him to help the poor defeat the rich. Another interesting fact that I learned on this section was that Chavez began to develop nonviolent ideas and believed that in order to practice nonviolent acts one must be prepared for sacrifice. One of the quotes that I really liked on this section was Chavez’s quote found on page 79 which states “Love is the most important ingredient in nonviolent work… Love the opponent… If were full of hatred we can’t do work” (Cortright 79). Using this word Chavez says that in order to become successful and win one must love the opponent. If people begin to use acts of nonviolence against the opponent’s one must not become successful in the movement being created.
2) Christian Roots
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The section titled Christian Roots shows how King began to obtain his nonviolent beliefs inspired by Gandhi and his Christian teachings. One of the ideas that was interesting to learn about is how King characterizes the idea of personalism. Personalism refers to the concept of a personal god. King describes personalism as “the theory that the clue to the meaning of ultimate reality is found on personality” (Cortright 56). By reading this quote, the term of personalism refers how personality is viewed as a key to measure reality. By reading this section I learned how personality is really important, it is a reflection of the image of
Chavez introduces the article with a use of ethos with his first reference to Dr. Martin Luther King. While fighting for the rights of African Americans, King never turned to violent protest, and Chavez admires that about him. By introducing King in the first paragraph, it creates a sense of easier understanding to see his view. Chavez later references to Gandhi, who was a non-violent icon in India fighting for civil rights. He says,
On the tenth anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination, Chavez utilizes King’s association with civil rights in order to give foundation to his own words. Chavez knows the anniversary is “...the best possible opportunity to recall the principles with which [their] struggle has grown and matured…” (ln 5-7) because King has values regarding civil rights that are synonymous to his own. Both Chavez and King possess the value that the human life is special and no one has the right to take it away. By referring to a well-known, wildly respected, and successful leader with a similar cause, Chavez has ensured that the audience will be receptive to his message that the use of nonviolence is a better solution to a problem than violence. A later reference to Gandhi further strengthens this effect. Chavez praises the effectiveness of a boycott, an act in which people forbid relations with a group in order to achieve change, made popular by Gandhi. The allusion to commonly revered supporters of the principles Chavez has built himself upon, gives him the credibility to gain the attention of the audience.
In Cesar Chavez’s article, he alludes Gandhi and God to remind his people why they must continue to fight with nonviolence. When Chavez states “Our conviction is that human life is a very special possession by God to man” shows Chavez using God to express how all our lives are precious and resulting in violence could do more bad than good (9-10). He does not want us to stoop down to their level and by acting with violence we will be doing exactly that. Chavez also alludes to Gandhi when he states,” The boycott, as Gandhi taught, is the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolent change, allowing makes of people to participate actively in a case” which displays that Chavez is trying to remind them that harmless methods are more effective. If you were
Cesar Chavez, a civil rights leader fighting for improving pay and working conditions of farmers, employs the use of nonviolence resistance in his role as a leader of the United Farm Workers. As a child, Chavez and his family worked as farmers on a field as migrant workers who were most likely treated in an unjust manner and thus, he dedicated his life to improving the conditions for all farmers. To honor Martin Luther King Jr. on the 10th anniversary of his death, Chavez wrote to a religious magazine that helps people in need about the benefits of nonviolent resistance. Throughout his letter, Chavez applies rhetorical devices such as pathos, diction, and juxtaposition to persuade and inform people about how powerful and effective nonviolence techniques can be for civil rights.
Chavez states, “Our conviction is that human life is a very special possession given by God to man and that no one has the right to take it for any reason or for any cause, however just it may be.” This quick allusion to God can appeal to an audience with a religious background; it gives them a more spiritual connection with what Chavez speaks about. In addition, Chavez says, “The boycott, as Ghandi taught, is the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolent change, allowing masses of people participate actively in a cause.” An allusion to the Mahatma Ghandi, a man who led India to independence from the British by practicing nonviolent civil disobedience, is used here. This really strengthens Chavez’s argument, as Ghandi was successful with what he fought for, which can give more confidence to the audience that nonviolent resistance can
To make Chavez’s point about nonviolence more effective, he makes an allusion to Gandhi. To validate his claim about the importance of nonviolence to create change, he states, “The boycott, as Gandhi taught, is the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolence change, allowing masses of people to participate actively in a cause.” Here, Chavez makes an allusion to Gandhi because he was one of the earliest examples of using nonviolence as a way to protest. So, just like what King Jr. did to fight nonviolently to impose change, it emphasizes Chavez’s point since he’s using an example of someone else who has done this. Also, by using Gandhi and how he states that nonviolence is a perfect way to combat something since it allows everyone to participate, it reveals how nonviolence is used as a way to unify people for a cause unlike violence which promotes the injury and death of others. So, this helps prove that nonviolence is
Dr. Kings life he fought endlessly for what he believes in. He challenged his followers to do the same when they are faced with an injustice too. During Cesar Chavez’s article he follows the same mindset and believes as MLK and shares the differences between protesting styles. In an excerpt from “He Showed Us The Way”, Cesar Chavez fights for the push of nonviolence in the listeners mind.
To start off Chavez uses an allusion when he mentions Dr. King, and his belief in the power of nonviolent resistance. “Dr. Kings entire life was an example of power that nonviolence brings to bear in the real world.” Chavez also uses Ghandi, a person well known for his strong support of nonviolent protest, to point out that “the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolent change” the boycott.” By alluding to these people known best for their strong belief in nonviolent resistance Chavez establishes a sense of trust in his audience, allowing them to trust his ideas and make his purpose, which is to persuade readers of this religion magazine to support nonviolent resistance, easier to get across.
“If you make laws to keep us suppressed in a wrongful manner and without taking us into confidence, these laws will merely adorn the statue books. We will never obey them”(1). Mohandas Gandhi expressed this in his writing “On Nonviolent Resistance”. “Civil disobedience” is when people use their voice by protesting, non-violently, to stick up against unjust laws and unjust movements. The truths and values are proven and brought to attention in the writings of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, and Henry David Thoreau. Civil disobedience can be the solution to unjust laws and violence around the world.
The essential of Gandhi is anthology of his life. It is separated into two parts. One as Gandhi the man and the other as the Mahatma meaning Great Soul. I was very much well interested in the readings of The Essential Gandhi. What I was most interested in was that he spoke with so much determination and compassion. His firm belief in nonviolence was presented very strongly. “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. Gandhi believed strongly in non-violent civil disobedience, so he states that violence provides only temporary relief or satisfaction, but the pain it causes people and societies is much greater. There is so much violence in the world today and some believe you have to fight violence with violence but Gandhi was very successful with his method of not acting upon violence in such of as in a hatred way. He solely helped India become independent with his method of nonviolence. Before I read this story I knew very little details of him, but the main thing that always puzzled me, what gave Gandhi the courage to make such a difference in the world?
By depicting a sense of morals, Chavez is able to support the nature of nonviolence over any other possibility. The simplicity put into a single civil movement, allows for millions to participate from all across the country. The American people “yearn for justice,” and it is such yearning that appeals to such large crowds. Chavez also states that nonviolence “provides the opportunity to stay on the offensive.” By doing so, there is an advantage over the opposing side. Once escalated and turned violent, there is a “total demoralization” of the causae. In order to remain as morally good as the cause being fought, Chavez demonstrates how nonviolence would accomplish such.
10. What did Gandhi mean that he was not talking about “passive” revolt? Note these events: “In the end, the British will walk out”; 100,000 Englishmen cannot control 350 million Indians if they refuse to cooperate … Note the terms used: The difference between passive aggression (very popular in many personality studies today) and passive non-cooperation--The gamble of inconsistency is most damaging to which?
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. This shows that Gandhi believed in peaceful change. Gandhi was well known in India by many people. People were inspired by his ways and would stand by him in peaceful protesting. A lot of people believed in Gandhi as a hero. Just as well, Percy Jackson from the Lightning Thief is a known hero for stopping world WWIII between the gods. Both Gandhi and Percy Jackson follow the path of the hero 's journey because they 're both trying to complete a task.
Kings’ Christian background coincided with the beliefs of Gandhi. He felt that despite their ill will toward you that you should love your enemies and the proverbial “turn the other cheek”. King stated that “As I read, I became deeply fascinated by his campaigns of nonviolent resistance. As I delved deeper into the philosophy of Gandhi, my skepticism concerning the power of love gradually diminished, and I came to see for the first time its potency in the area of social reform
Aroused by the massacre of Amritsar in 1919, Gandhi devoted his life to gaining India’s independence from Great Britain. As the dominant figure used his persuasive philosophy of non-violent confrontation, he inspired political activists with many persuasions throughout the world (Andrews 23). Not only was Mahatma Gandhi a great peacemaker, but also his work to achieve freedom and equality for all people was greatly acknowledged. Gandhi’s unconventional style of leadership gained him the love of a country and eventually enabled him to lead the independence movement in India.