Nonviolent Resistance: The Proper Response to Oppression

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Imagine yourself denied basic civil liberties and rights based on the color of your skin. You are told by the very government that resides over you that segregation is legal if equal but it is not . Tormented by those with blind hatred fueled by flames of racism and you can do nothing to stop it legally. Sacred and wanting some kind of change something must be done to reverse the injustice suffered by the innocent. Options are discussed by those that want change. Hopefully a leader will rise to the occasion and lead their people to the road of redemption and not to the path of total and utter destruction. For the oppressed, three paths come to mind in which they can decide to act. The first is to accept the oppression and the contempt of the oppressors. The second path is to demonstrate nonviolent resistance to prove that the system of government is flawed instead of racial groups. The last path is violence. Violence in its self is an agent of evil and anything gained from it will eventually turn to ash. The methods of each approach have their own ramifications, avenues, and cost. Oppression is a kind of hatred distilled from the lack of understanding and indifference of those that do understand.

Acceptance of oppression is the willingness of the oppressed to be put down and cast as second rate citizens. The act of acceptance is the path of least hardship. It does not require great effort to be put down. Only to follow what you are told by those above you. This is almost a mindless way to go about life. In Martin Luther King’s. I find myself in total agreement with him. A people that accept the whims of the tyrants above them have no reason to wonder why they are not equal. Weak people would rather gripe about the event...

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...peace and stability. The other paths are just as evil in their manners as the oppressors. Peace is the underling goal in the minds of the oppressed and nonviolent resistance is the sensible way of securing an understanding between all people involved. Long lasting stability will be ensured if oppressors can admit their shortcomings. Peace will also be helped along if the oppressed will rise to the occasion and show those that have wronged what they have done. Equality is the ultimate means for the ideal of path of nonviolent resistance for all that reside in our great nation. None of the tribulation or sacrifice would mean a thing if it was not for all peoples of a nation to stand equally amongst each other and be counted as a citizen. In this way, a nation can truly stand together and face obstacles together as a united front and not as separate warring factions.

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