| Last
century, possibly the most cruel in human history, also saw a great
light: Mahatma Gandhi and his use of nonviolence to abolish colonialism,
(not only in India, and not only British colonialism). Gandhi was
followed by Martin Luther King's nonviolence to end segregation in
the South of the USA and Nelson Mandela's nonviolence to end apartheid
in South Africa. Colonialism, segregation and apartheid were three
of the worst scourges of last century. All three great persons were
non-white, a fact worth keeping in mind not because other peoples
are incapable of nonviolence, but because the non-whites had been
the victims of the worst atrocities. Under their leadership the millions
they inspired changed world history. There
were also important examples of successful nonviolence against the
Nazis, against their occupation of foreign lands and their holocausts.
But Europeans knew too little about nonviolence. The same applies
to the Japanese.
And that brings
us to a very important conclusion: nonviolence is a moral commitment
to change society, even the world, but not by violence. And nonviolence
is a very concrete strategy, a way of acting in tense, difficult
conflicts that has to be learnt. The commitment is necessary, the
moral light burning inside us--the conviction that conflicts can
be overcome because all we humans are after all members of the same
family-- is necessary. But it is not sufficient. Training is also
needed. Workshops are needed. And together we shall be able to move
mountains. |