Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- > A Gandhian Perspective on Tuesday's Tragedy (condensed) > > Understandably, after the tragedy in New York and Washington DC on > September 11, many have written or called our office to find out what > would be an appropriate nonviolent response to such an unbelievably > inhuman act of violence. > > First, we must understand that nonviolence is not a strategy that we > can use in a moment of crisis and discard in times of peace. > Nonviolence is about becoming the change we wish to see in the world, > because, a nation's collective attitude is based on the attitude of > the individual. Nonviolence is about building positive relationships > with all human beings. Relationships that are based on love, > compassion, respect, understanding and appreciation. > > People become murderers, robbers, and terrorists because of > circumstances and experiences in life. What we need to do is to > analyze dispassionately what are those circumstances that create such > monsters and how can we help eliminate those circumstances. > > We saw some people in Iraq and Palestine rejoice in the blowing up of > the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It horrified us, as it > should. But, let us not forget that we do the same thing. When Israel > bombs the Palestinians we either rejoice or show no compassion. Our > attitude is that they deserve what they get. When the Palestinians > bomb the Israelis we are indignant and condemn them as vermin who > need to be eliminated. > > We reacted without compassion when we bombed the cities of Iraq. I > was among the millions in the United States who sat glued to the > television and watched the drama as though it was a made for > television film. Thousands of innocent men, women and children were > being blown to bits and, instead of feeling sorry for them, we > marveled at the efficiency of our military. For more than ten years > we have continued to wreak havoc on Iraq. An estimated 50,000 > children die every year because of sanctions that we have imposed. > And this hasn't moved us to compassion. All this is done, we are > told, because we want to get rid of the Satan called Sadam Hussein. > > Now we are getting ready to do this all over again to get rid of > another Satan called Osama Bin Laden. We will bomb the cities of > Afghanistan because they harbor the Satan and in the process we will > help create a thousand other bin Ladens. > > All of this brings us back to the question: How do we respond > nonviolently to terrorism? The consequences of a military response > are not very rosy. Many thousands of innocent people will die both > here and in the country or countries we attack. Militancy will > increase exponentially and, ultimately, we will be faced with > another, more pertinent, moral question: what will we gain by > destroying half the world? Will we be able to live with a clear > conscience? > > We must acknowledge our role in helping create monsters in the world > and then find ways to contain these monsters without hurting more > innocent people and then redefine our role in the world. I think we > must move from seeking to be respected for our military strength to > being respected for our moral strength. > > We need to appreciate that we are in a position to play a powerful > role in helping the "other half" of the world attain a better > standard of life not by throwing a few crumbs but by significantly > involving ourselves in constructive economic programs. For too long > our foreign policy has been based on "what is good for the United > States." Our foreign policy should now be based on what is good for > the world and how can we do the right thing to help the world become > more peaceful. > > To those who have lost loved ones in this and other terrorist acts I > say I share your grief. I am sorry that you have become victims of > senseless violence. But let this sad episode not make you vengeful > because no amount of violence and killing is going to bring you inner > peace. Anger and hate never do. The memory of those victims who have > died in this and other violent incidents around the world will be > better preserved and meaningfully commemorated if we all learn to > forgive and dedicate our lives to helping create a peaceful, > respectful and understanding world. > > -------------- > Arun Gandhi Founder Director M.K.Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence > 650 East Parkway South Memphis TN 38104 Tel:901-452-2824; FAX: > 901-452-2775 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; web: www.gandhiinstitute.org > ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
