Nonviolence and Peaceful Protests
April 16, 2010
The philosophy of nonviolence has been used as a tool for social change throughout history. Great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. used it to create change and better society.
An example of non-violent protests occurring today is found in the Palestinian village of Beit Jala. Despite the number of protests over the occupation of the West Bank by Israel that turn violent, organizers in Beit Jala are training people to peacefully protest. Many protests in the past in Beit Jala have been met with Israeli authorities shooting tear gas or even rubber bullets at the protestors, which is why the new methods of peacefully protesting are very important for the Palestinians.
In a news story from Amnesty International, peaceful protests were violently broken up by authorities in Egypt. The anti-government demonstrators were beaten with batons and at least one was detained and abused by Egyptian authorities. Another peaceful protest turned violent in Egypt on April 6 when authorities forcefully repressed it as well. Even though Egypt agreed to allow citizens the freedom of expression, association and assembly after the UN Human Rights Council held its Periodic Review of human rights in Egypt, acts of violence against peaceful protestors still take place.
There have been many leaders who were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and his methods of nonviolence and non-cooperation. I believe that nonviolence is something that should be promoted and taught to more people. It is something that I never learned much about growing up, but it seems like something that is so relevant to the violence-filled world that we live in should be part of every person’s education.
After learning more about the philosophy of nonviolence I have wondered, if there is a peaceful way to create change, why not use it? If nonviolence can bring down dictatorships, improve living conditions and win a nation’s independence, then why not use nonviolence more often?
The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is another leader who promotes nonviolence. His views on peace and methods to a more peaceful world are inspiring to me. There are many people that are using the methods of nonviolence that have been promoted by people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. and there have been many people that have used nonviolence in the past as well.
