peace and peacekeepers

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Recommended: Violent protests in civil rights movement

Non-violent methods such as those employed by great men like Mohandas (later Mahatma) Gandhi, Martin Luther King Junior, and Nelson Mandela are absolutely crucial to solving problems of racism, as other stratagems may reap only a crop of renewed hatred and will ultimately lead to continued violence. Peaceful ways of protest against unjust and racist laws are often the only plausible solution, even in the face of hate and oppression. Peace is not only the absence of violence, but a state in which there is no aggression and the government does not control by force. Negative peace is order, whereas positive peace is justice. Positive peace is truly the goal of any individual who advocates coexistence. While in South Africa, Mohandas Gandhi saw firsthand racism against Indians. He mobilized this minority to join forces in organized protesting by crossing borders (which was illegal without a special pass) and burning certificates of registration with the government. These protests resulted in acceptance of Hindu ceremonies and less harsh restrictions on Indians. Nelson Mandela later worked to solve problems for blacks in the same area. Satyagraha, meaning “Soul Force” or “Truth Force,” is a term coiled by Gandhi meaning a peaceful protest. Satyagraha protesters often take part in hartal, a form of protest involving prayer and marching. Satyagraha involves using your soul to look beyond violence and anger, even when you are violently provoked. Practitioners of Satyagraha strive to have peace with aggressors. Many strategies must sometimes be used to obtain one’s goals, as shown by the story of Nelson Mandela. Peaceful protest may give way, in turn, to picketing, rallying, marching, and sabotage when each is outlawed. T... ... middle of paper ... ...ystems have persisted through today. Peacemakers have given the rest of us an opportunity to live in a state of true peace, risking their lives to end major problems such as racism and poverty. Works Cited Bolden, Tonya. M.L.K. Journey of a King. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, 2007 Bull, Angela. Free at Last! The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. New York, New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2000 DeVillier, Christy. Martin Luther King Jr. Edina, Minnesota: ABDO Publishing Company, 2001 Haskins, Jim. I Have a Dream New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishing, 1992 Kramer, Ann. Nelson Mandela Austin, Texas: Steck-Vaughn Company, 2003 Lynch, Emma. Martin Luther King Jr. Chicago, Illinois: Reed Elsevier Incorporated, 2005 Wilkinson, Philip. Gandhi the Young Protester Who Founded a Nation Washington, D.C: National Geographic Society, 2005

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