02-05-2021, 10:53 PM
(02-05-2021, 09:30 PM)Einzige Wrote:(02-05-2021, 09:22 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:(02-05-2021, 12:34 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:(02-04-2021, 06:25 PM)Einzige Wrote: Why is nonviolence to be preferred to violence?
Most people value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thus, if you can get these without violence, you do it. Sometimes violence is necessary, I have been saying for a while that non violence doesn't work so well in autocratic cultures. The leaders can just ignore the people. Sorta. Looking at Russia, you wonder. Looking at China, you wonder less.
How do you improve the culture when the leaders and elites do not show conscience? Violence is sometimes necessary?
But you avoid it if you can.
Agreed. And usually, violence generates more violence. Societies built on violence, typically live by violence. The new boss is pretty much the same as the old boss, in those societies. But it depends on the situation, and a matter of degree, and the principles involved. Violent outlaws and tyrants can't always be talked down.
In America?
Some people in America care more about white supremacy than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Perhaps if they put themselves in the driver’s seat, they can get these things for themselves if not for all.
Trump divided the people between us and them, between red and blue. The case could be made that he would encourage violence on the part of and for the red.
We certainly saw this division of caring about some people more than others in the US Civil War.
Yes, the phrase “All men are created equal” as written by a slaveowner shows the contradiction, about some not caring as much for some people’s life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as others. Yes, even in America.
Some people are into tribal thinking. You divide between us and them, develop xenophobia about them, and do stuff to promote us and degrade them. This mode of thinking does exist even in America. It is unfortunately human. It was cost effective and common for much of history.
The roundhead / urban / blue / WEIRD culture puts its foot down occasionally, blocks an Adolf Hitler, George Wallace or Donald Trump, hopefully without violence and force, but you do what you have to. This is one of those times.
That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.