Passive Resistance as a Powerful Tool for Social and...

Passive Resistance as a Powerful Tool for Social and Political Change Passive resistance, simply defined as â€Å"peaceful resistance by fasting or refusing to cooperate,† (hyper-dictionary) is a complex issue, and potent tool to attain a means through absolutely zero violence. As Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi, have argued, passive resistance is a noble means to a peaceful end, in which only the followers of a movement risk themselves and bring no harm to those whom they oppose. â€Å"Passive resistance,† according to Mahatma Gandhi, â€Å"is an all sided sword; it can be used anyhow; it blesses him who uses it and him against whom it is used. Without drawing a drop of blood it produces far-reaching results. It never rusts and cannot be stolen.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦capitalized on this knowledge, he rallied people together by stating, â€Å"We aren’t going to let any mace stop us. We are the masters in our nonviolent movement in disarming police forces; they don’t know what to do, I’ve seen it s o often.† In this speech to a Memphis audience Mr. King was making the point that police forces who use violence and are met with passivity wonder how they can use brutality against innocents. Mahatma Gandhi requested his audience to consider; â€Å"when we challenge him (enforcement) to walk over us, knowing that he will not, we place him in a most awkward and humiliating position.† Mr. Gandhi knew, especially in the British case of India, that pride is a huge part of human existence, and that rather than placing themselves in a position where they knew not what to do, the British would think it better to succumb to the majority of Satyagrahi (passive resisters) who fight a just battle. Pride of the foe, opinions of the public, and the numbers of the resisters, prove that no matter how powerful the foe, passive resistance (if followed by enough for a just cause) can defeat the reigning power. Henry David Thoreau had little faith in the governing powers and thought of them as catalysts for violence, and fuels for mans’ malice. Mr. Thoreau declared that, â€Å"under the name of Order and Civil Government, we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our own meanness.† Contrary to Henry Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr. was much moreShow MoreRelatedComparation of Gandhi to Socrates, to buddha, to Jesus and to St. Fancis of Assisi924 Words   |  4 PagesGandhi (Mohandas Karamchand) â€Å"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever walked upon this earth in flesh and blood†. -Albert Einstein Throughout history most national heroes have been warriors, but Gandhi was a passive and peaceful preacher of morals, ethics, and beliefs. He was an outsider who ended British rule over India without striking a blow. Moreover, Gandhi was not skillful with any unusual artistic, scholarly, or scientific talents. He never earned a degreeRead MoreWomen s Role As A Patriarchal Institution Essay1453 Words   |  6 PagesReligion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices that have been around from society itself has existed. It also plays a pivotal part in sociology especially with regards to social control and socialisation. The role women occupy within religion has changed drastically in the last few decades. There are competing sociological arguments as to whether or not the subordination of women is due to religion as many feminists would suggest. For the purposes of this essay I will evaluate and discussRead MoreResistance to Change2462 Words   |  10 PagesResisting Change Change is a natural process, it occurs every day whether it is recognized or not. Many factors both external an internal can create a need for change, these include: competition, technology, desire for growth, need to improve processes, and governmental regulations. It is the purpose of this paper to describe and discuss resistance to change as it relates to organizations today. I plan to utilize several scholarly references including the book â€Å"Managing OrganizationalRead MoreThe Hidden Power of Media Discourse and the Capacity of the Capitalist Class to Exercise this Power2081 Words   |  9 Pages Submitted to: Dr. M. Umer Farooq 1. Introduction Hidden power, according to Fairclough (1995a), is the â€Å"power behind discourse† and entails how and to what extent the holders of powers exercise their influence. Discourse being a social practice (Fairclough 2001) and an element of a communicative event (van Dijk 1997) becomes a strong determinant that impacts culture and distributes power in society. This approach to discourse makes media a very influential mediator, and the discourseRead MoreInformation Technology For Educational Development2029 Words   |  9 Pagesinformation technology is simply to present information. The textbook is the traditional passive instructional system. Projection media—slides, filmstrips, overhead transparencies have experienced quite but steady growth since the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Video cassettes and video disks will provide even more flexible tools for presenting video-based instructional material. The best known recent examples of passive instructional pr ogramming are the â€Å"Sesame Street† and â€Å"Electric Company† programmesRead MoreAdvertising: Modern Day Brainwashing Essay3202 Words   |  13 Pagesauthoritarian and totalitarian governments, are increasingly being practiced by advertising companies and mass media. There are extensive similarities among the political and economic standards that cause negative impacts on society, as a result of adopting these mind control tactics. As Malcom X pointed out, â€Å"The media is the most powerful entity on earth, because they control the minds of the masses†. Advertisers and corporations are liable for using modern and sophisticated forms of mind controlRead MoreAdvertising Discourse Analysis4128 Words   |  17 Pagesinformation, but also diversifying its shows and constantly adapting to international competition and demands. Its evolution is easily noticeable in the interior dynamics of the development of mass media functions. In its „childhood†, the social functions of the press served three great needs: 1-informing; 2-expressing opinions; 3-entertainment[1]. In its „teen† years, the communication system adds to its repertoire: 1-exposing corruption; 2-standing up for human freedom andRead More The Political Performance of Motherhood: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo3446 Words   |  14 PagesThe Political Performance of Motherhood: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo During the Argentine dictatorship known as the Dirty War (1976-1983), thousands of people were systematically abducted by the government in order to eliminate all opposition to the regime. These disappearances, which the dictatorship never admitted to committing, happened across class and age lines, but most of the kidnapped were young students and blue-collar workers. Despite the fact that associations and meetings of anyRead More Martin Luther King, Jr.: Effective Nonviolence the Multiple Intelligences2987 Words   |  12 Pagesbe a physician. Soon, however, he learned he was relatively lacking in the logical/mathematical intelligence and was not scientifically gifted. Sensing a future of professional social prominence, King took aim at studying law. Soon, however, he recognized his love for people, his proclivity for understanding people in social systems, and his incessant analysis of how people reacted in different situations. He decided to major in sociology. His junior year he met George Kelsey and Benjamin Mays,Read MoreEssay How Successful Was Nazi Propaganda from 1933 to 1939?3993 Words   |  16 Pagessafe to think - and more importantly safe to say. Goebbels, in his 1934 New Year speech: Only he who thinks he is lost is lost. ...The penalty for telling Hitler jokes was death. Alternatively, one could look at how much opposition (i.e. resistance) there was to the Nazi regime - and to Nazi propaganda. Was there absolute opposition? There really was not very much - there was in some circles a feeling of acquiescence to the Nazi regime, neutral emotion towards the treatment of Jews for instance