War Causes Pain And Distress

The history of violence in the world is well documented. However it is also possible to use non-violence to bring about change. This DBQ will look at two countries where a non-violent movement was successful.

We have all seen or read about the political and social upheavals caused by war. Some may have even experienced it first-hand. Throughout history war has had negative psychological implications on those effected. However, there is no greater negative impact of war than the psychological and emotional turmoil that it causes individual soldiers.

All through history governments and empires have been overthrown or defeated primarily by the violence of those who oppose them. This violence was usually successful however, there have been several situations, when violence failed, that protesters have had to turn to other methods. Non-violent protesting never seemed to be the right course of action until the ideology of Mohandas Gandhi spread and influenced successful protests across the world. Non-violent methods were successfully used, most notably, by Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela.

While when discussing the history of the world’s power forces, violence makes for stimulating discussion, other tactics were put to good use, one of these alternatives being non-violence. With the guidance of three worldwide heroes - Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela - with contagious optimism and high spirits, it became apparent just how much of a difference could be made carried out through non-violent terms. Mankind was introduced to another way to resolve major problems just as effectively, if not more, than violence could.

Non-violence is a peaceful strategy people used in the 1900’s to revolt against the government. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Mohandas Gandhi had the most success in changing the way we live today. How did they get nonviolence to work? Well they were very disobedient, disciplined, and determined to make a change in society.

All things considered one must devoted to their belief of nonviolence and be willing to suffer without retaliation (Source C), they can not fall victim to anger and fight back, for it would destroy the very principle of the cause. To become a truly successful campaign it should not be run on the basis of humiliating or besting the opponent, rather one should seek friendship and a better understanding of another (Source B). A nonviolent protester should not become bitter of the circumstances the opponent might bestow upon them but rather have open arms and eye for a better future ahead. The central idea of a nonviolent campaign is being able to make changes and spreading peace and love without the use of violence; by pursuing upon this path

Individuals everywhere grimace at war. Images of the strike of the gun, the burst of the bombs, and the clash of the soldiers all elicit a wince and a shiver. Moviegoers close their eyes during gory battle scenes and open them again only once the whine of the bullets stops rattling in their ears. War is hell, as the common aphorism goes, and the pain of war is equally hellish. Most individuals naturally accept this conclusion despite never experiencing war themselves. Without enduring the actual pain of war injuries, individuals still argue the importance war and its miseries. Individuals rely on media and entertainment for education about the suffering and evils of war. Writers provide an acute sense of a soldier’s physical and mental

Gene Sharp, a prominent scholar in direct nonviolent action, created a list of 198 methods of nonviolent action (Sharp 330). He put the nonviolent actions in three categories. They are; nonviolent protest and influence, un-cooperation, and nonviolent interference (Sharp 330). The nonviolent action includes figurative actions such as picketing, marching, parades or vigils. These actions must communicate peaceful resistance to a policy or a law. The aim of these actions is to convince others to change their attitude towards the policy and join in the direct nonviolent action to correct or eliminate the policy or law. The strongest type of nonviolent action is interference because it suspends an ongoing activity of the opponent (Sharp

Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.

Nonviolence was first introduced by Mahatma Gandhi in the fight to free India from British rule. It was later incorporated into the civil rights movements by James Bevel and Martin Luther King Jr. in the U.S. during the 1960’s. The purpose of nonviolence is to use peaceful protesting tactics and refraining from force to affect social or political change. Organizations such as CORE, SNCC and SCLC practiced nonviolent protests by participating in sit-ins at diners, boycotting buses, organizing freedom rides into the segregated South, and by marching for their rights. In this essay, I will explore how different genres of literature describe the nonviolent protests and the hardships that the protesters faced.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated that “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time - the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression” (Martin Luther King Jr. - Acceptance Speech, paragraph 4). He believed that violence could not come to an end if those attempting global peace and equality employed violence in their movements. President Barack Obama spoke about this during a 2009 Nobel lecture, stating that “As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King’s life’s work, I am living testimony to the moral force of nonviolence” (Barack Obama Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, paragraph 14). However, he also justified fighting evil with violence, making the claim that “A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies.” Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama agree that unjustified violence will solve none of the world’s political and moral issues.

To unveil a direct action for immediate response, each proposition should be carefully thought out. If violence were to precede any movement, officers would easily deny the opposing arguments voice and ground their motives unlawful and a danger to the general public. Yet, if the protest, pickets, marches, or sit-ins are nonviolent, the voices of the people are recognized as a transformative justice. Choosing an ethical stance, this denounces any strategy, that doesn’t obtain a peaceful outcome. There are a total of over one hundred and ninety- eight methods of nonviolent actions. Grasping formal statements, symbolic public acts, non-cooperation’s with social events, customs, and institutions, and withdrawal from the social system to name a few. These actions bring forth economic strikes and political

Violence is an option that is heavily debated when taking action. It can often result in complete chaos and not accomplish the original purpose of the action. Nonviolent direct action is another option that is contemplated. It involves the use of direct action without violent force to get the point of the action known. Examples of nonviolent direct action would include strikes and protests. The use of such action is often best implemented in human experience that involve discrimination. Differences in race, gender, or religious affiliation can often cause discrimination. Individuals in minority groups are seen as unequal to the majority and can be easily be discriminated against. To promote change, minority groups often take actions. The action can either involve violence or exclude it. Violent force can degrade the appearance of the individuals and create more anger between the two opposing sides. The use of non-violent direct action shows more humility of those who are being discriminated against. Others being to understand the issue without creating chaos.

Also, most of these women who survived the genocide experienced personal trauma resulting from the injuries suffered from all the violence done against them and their families. In the documentary, “Worse than War, we saw a group of women who recall how traumatized it was for them to see Hutus exterminated their brothers and parents. After this incident they recalled in the video that they had hard time trying to understand how their neighborhood were able to killed their relatives. By watching the video, I could see in the of these women how disturbed, and traumatized they were. They were survivors of the genocide but yet they trauma and humiliation they experienced at the hands of Hutus were still present in their lives. This will have a direct

Non- violent movements are a way for groups of people to achieve change and create an impact in the society. The labor, African American, and Vietnam anti-war peace movements were significantly successful in abolishing harsh working conditions, gaining civil rights for blacks, and withdrawing from the Vietnam War (Upchurch). Non-violent and violent movements have been used throughout history to evoke change in the society, obtain equality, civil rights, and peace. While violent protest result in the same changes, non-violent methods can ultimately go beyond local violent protest, spread nationally through movements, and protest without requiring violence. These events because of the non-violent