• DoYouNot@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I mean sure, if we include violent reactions to non-violence and place the goalposts just so, then yes, absolutely everything includes violence…

    But as far as “any big moves or changes” you mention, Gandhi’s movement for non-violent resistance is the posterchild for doing exactly that without violence. It exposes violent state power as ultimately impotent when faced with massive, collective and coordinated non-violent resistance.

    And Gandhi was not “nice” just because he advocated for non-violence… He and his followers used coordinated, active efforts to cripple the mechanisms upholding British rule. The British hated him for it.

    I’m not sure I understand the point you’re trying to make.

    • ColeSloth
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      8 months ago

      I feel like you didn’t listen to anything I said. Let me summarize it for you. Ghandi was one piece of the puzzle to making the brits leave. The other piece was violence, and without the violence part, it wasn’t going to work.

      • Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml
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        8 months ago

        You can’t have a successful MLK without a Malcolm X behind him reminding the oppressors of the other option if they don’t compromise with the former.

        • Kindness@lemmy.ml
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          8 months ago

          A good point. However, if violence was all there was, a devastating war would be the end result. The non-violence led the British public to disagree with the military actions.

          A destabilized nation cannot war afar.

          Apologies for butchering The Art of War, I believe the correct quotation includes “disruption at home” though it’s a very fuzzy memory.