Non-Violent Means Of Protest
Why a non-violent means of protest can be the best and most effective way of gaining freedom from repression Can violence as a form of protest ever be justified?
In this essay, one will be able to determine why a non-violent means of protest can be the most effective way of gaining freedom from repression. In contrast to this, the essay will also discuss whether violence as a form of protest can ever be justified. The term “non violence” in definition means the use of peaceful means, not force, to bring about political or social change. The essay will illustrate if it is more successful to become victorious with words or …show more content…
If the protesters use force to achieve their desire then there would be a higher risk of retaliation from the opposition. Therefore, innocent lives would be lost over a matter that could be settled in a peaceful, democratic way. A quote that supports this statement is from Martin Luther King, leader of the civil rights movement in America, who also fought for the equality of African Americans in the 1960s: “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” * He means by this that we have forgotten about the power of our voices and believe that the only way to gain our goal is through force, violence and bloodshed. Also that through peace and democratic reasoning innocent lives will be spared from the hardship of war …show more content…
Actions such as demonstrations, marches, industrial action including strikes, writing and distribution of propaganda material, TV and radio broadcasts and the introduction of a new political party can all be an effective and legal method of protest against the current government or leader’s ideology. Using force or causing riots to prove a point is an illegal action and can lead to prosecution of the perpetrators thus undermining their position. Peaceful protest is much more likely to be successful. * An example of this is Lech Walesa’s involvement in the Gdansk shipyard strikes in Poland in 1980 which persuaded the then communist government to sign an accord with the strike coordinating committee and allowed not only the workers the right to strike but also permitted them to form their own independent union. This desired outcome had come about as a result of peaceful protest. However, it has to be said, previous similar actions in the shipyard, particularly in the 1960s,resulted in many deaths due to the hard line taken by the authorities at that time. It can mean therefore that, sometimes, protests resulting in change make take many years to create the desired outcome, during which time violence and even death may
In this essay, one will be able to determine why a non-violent means of protest can be the most effective way of gaining freedom from repression. In contrast to this, the essay will also discuss whether violence as a form of protest can ever be justified. The term “non violence” in definition means the use of peaceful means, not force, to bring about political or social change. The essay will illustrate if it is more successful to become victorious with words or …show more content…
If the protesters use force to achieve their desire then there would be a higher risk of retaliation from the opposition. Therefore, innocent lives would be lost over a matter that could be settled in a peaceful, democratic way. A quote that supports this statement is from Martin Luther King, leader of the civil rights movement in America, who also fought for the equality of African Americans in the 1960s: “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” * He means by this that we have forgotten about the power of our voices and believe that the only way to gain our goal is through force, violence and bloodshed. Also that through peace and democratic reasoning innocent lives will be spared from the hardship of war …show more content…
Actions such as demonstrations, marches, industrial action including strikes, writing and distribution of propaganda material, TV and radio broadcasts and the introduction of a new political party can all be an effective and legal method of protest against the current government or leader’s ideology. Using force or causing riots to prove a point is an illegal action and can lead to prosecution of the perpetrators thus undermining their position. Peaceful protest is much more likely to be successful. * An example of this is Lech Walesa’s involvement in the Gdansk shipyard strikes in Poland in 1980 which persuaded the then communist government to sign an accord with the strike coordinating committee and allowed not only the workers the right to strike but also permitted them to form their own independent union. This desired outcome had come about as a result of peaceful protest. However, it has to be said, previous similar actions in the shipyard, particularly in the 1960s,resulted in many deaths due to the hard line taken by the authorities at that time. It can mean therefore that, sometimes, protests resulting in change make take many years to create the desired outcome, during which time violence and even death may