Essay On Cesar Chavez

Many well-known and renowned historical figures have used non-violent strategies to achieve goals that would otherwise have been almost impossible if not at the least devastating. Nonviolence can be used in many different situations, mainly however it is a sort of way of life. A believer of non-violence or Ahimsa (Sanskrit word/belief for nonviolence) not only practices non-violence when it comes to achieving a goal but also in all aspects of life. True non-violence believers are often believers of Buddhism and Hinduism, whose principles aim towards the art of non-violence when it comes to animals, nature and really in all living things. Apart from the truly altruistic and peaceful purpose for non-violence that comes from Buddhism and Hinduism,

non-violence is also used in civil resistance. Civil resistance is applying the principles of nonviolence to enable a group to port forth a social movement without creating backlash from the public. A few very successful civil resistance movements include Cesar Chavez’s movement for a labor union in the farming industry, Mahatma Gandhi's peaceful protest in India and Martin Luther King Jr’s nonviolent speeches and movements to desegregate and truly free America. Nonviolence can either be a way to connect with nature and a generally peaceful way of life or often times nonviolent strategies can be enacted in civil resistance movements in order to change a fundamental social structure. The very purpose of nonviolence is to cause no harm so naturally the principles of nonviolence have no innate or realized cons however some can arise from improper utilization of nonviolence.

Throughout the history of America and the world, many leaders and role models have been born that have used the art of nonviolence to fundamentally change their society.

The first of which I would like to talk about is Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was a Mexican-American civil rights activist responsible for the creation of the National Farm Workers Association later to be known as the United Farm Workers. Chavez realized that the Mexican-American labor force was being highly abused by large plantation owners. Chavez knew that the only way for large farm owners to pay their workers a higher wage would be to create a labor union. Chavez managed to create and sustain the National Farm Workers Association and raise to wages of his fellow friends and coworkers. Chavez was able to achieve this feat through several boycotts, strikes and fasting. Cesar even fasted for 36 days at the age of 61 for an event he called “Fast for Life” where he aimed to gain awareness of the harmful impacts of pesticides on farmers and their families. Cesar Chavez never hurt anyone in his protests and was able to at long last create a union for the Mexican-American workers who were being exploited by wealthy plantation owners. The second great leader and nonviolence promoter that changed society through non-violence is Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was born in a Hindu merchant caste family in coastal Gujarat. He first started applying the nonviolent tactics for social changes in South Africa, where he aided Indian’s in human rights affairs. He then returned to India in 1915 and was part of many social changes that occurred. Gandhi assumed leadership of the Indian National Congress and led nationwide campaigns against poverty, disease and crime. He continued to fight for India and Indian rights until he was shot three times by a Hindu nationalist in 1948. Despite the usually horrid outcomes of those who are most influential, Mahatma Gandhi helped India to climb out of many holes and devoted his life to

human rights and nonviolence.

Two religions that highly embellished nonviolence are Buddhism and Hinduism. Buddhism is a non-theistic religion that largely encompasses the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha (the awakened one). Buddhism aims to end suffering by eliminating ignorance and craving. Buddhism teaches the “Four Noble Truths” with an ultimate goal of attaining Nirvana (to end the cycle of life and death) by following the “Eightfold Path”, which is the fourth of the “Four Noble Truths”. The “Four Noble Truths” are “The Truth of Suffering”, “The Truth of the Cause of Suffering”, “The Truth of the End of Suffering” and “The Truth of the Path Leading to the End of Suffering” which teaches that one must follow the “Middle Path” in order to end suffering. The “Middle Path” means taking the middle road, not over indulging and not under indulging but just right, this is the only way to end suffering and reach Nirvana. It is largely proposed that one who has reached Nirvana will see everyone and everything around him, he will see what someone used to be and what someone will be in the cycle of rebirth. The second religion that has a direct connection to peace and nonviolence is Hinduism. Hinduism is the dominant religion or “way of life” of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism aims to guide the general public by influencing people's daily morality through dharma (one's duties, rights, laws) and karma (one’s actions, words or deeds). Dharma and karma for the most part carry over into Buddhism and Jainism since the three religions have similar goals and teachings. Dharma and karma are said to “judge” one's actions and the act of killing or violence is seen as bad karma. Hinduism, like Buddhism, teaches the arts of meditation, peace, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Hinduism especially linked to moral codes and laws of daily life, much more than Buddhism which is more of a “way of life”.

I see nonviolence in two ways, as a way of life and as a method for revolutionary change. Nonviolence applied as a way of life is often in parallel with Hinduism and Buddhism and is usually a large part of someone’s life. Structuring life around peace, Zen and nonviolence is not harmful and has no cons yet many pros. Utilizing nonviolence as a strategy for social change (civil resistance) however, is a double edged sword. Unfortunately, even those who peacefully and nonviolently protest are subject to violence and cruelty. Such can be seen throughout America during the time of women suffrage and the push for the desegregation of the nation. Nonviolent protests are morally and ethically the superior choice when attempting to send out revolutionary ideas, yet still these types of protests can be met with violent opposition. It is the strategy of nonviolent protestors to try and get a reaction out of someone or a group in order to display them as the evil and insensible person/people. Although the principle of nonviolence when applied to everyday life can lead to peacefulness and happiness and could lead to a higher sense of interconnectedness, nonviolence can also be applied to change the opinions of the masses. Mahatma Gandhi is a great example of a leader who prior to being a revolutionary was already a Hindu and believer of nonviolence. Gandhi didn’t see his nonviolent opposition as a great strategy for winning social reforms, he saw his nonviolent tactics as an extension of his everyday life. In other words, for Gandhi, nonviolence wasn’t simply a tool, it was more of a sense of being. To demonstrate the other side of nonviolence, I will use Martin Luther King Jr. as an example. What I have learned throughout my years of history lessons and classes is that Martin Luther King Jr. adapted the method of nonviolence to his desegregation movement. Prior to Martin Luther King Jr. opinions about African-Americans where low, due to gangs like the Black Panther. It was Martin Luther who stepped in and unified the movement in a coordinated and systematic way, which was centered on nonviolence. Not to say that utilizing the principles and beliefs of nonviolence in a political way is a bad thing or will give you bad karma, it’s just a different method of applying similar ideologies.