Who’s afraid of non-violent people?
Despite the great violence of our world, the ruthless dictatorships, widespread poverty and exploitation, and widespread popular helplessness of oppressed people, the 20th century and the new one have seen the emergence of the practice of powerful movements able to expand justice and freedom by actions of nonviolent people.
Building on decades of experience, study, and learning in many parts of the world, nonviolent struggle has emerged as a realistic alternative to both violence and passivity. People have begun to learn that they need not be the victims of violent oppression nor the tools manipulative elites of their own country or foreign regimes. People are capable of self-liberation when they learn of the possibility of
increasing their own power self-reliantly, when they refuse to fight with their oppressors’ best weapons, but instead defy injustices and domination with the social, economic, psychological, and political weapons of people power. They are beginning to learn that their courage is more likely to be effective when they learn what they are doing and how to do it skillfully.
They can learn from experience and study what will help them to succeed and what will doom them to disaster. Some people are even learning that strategic planning can increase the power of their bravery. (more…)
