An Intellectual Foundation to Oppose Violence and War!

To stand for peace, we must know what we stand for.

Pacifism is the opposite of fascism, or militarism, of racism, of greed, of apathy, of hate. It's not just a stance against war, but a belief system based on humane values and urgent activism.

Gandhi called it Satyagraha, or Truth-Force. It's stronger than the power of violence. Pacifism is a philosophy that can defy any force of evil, because it's based on truth, empathy and love.

It takes strength and courage to fight for what's right in our sick world. If you are tough enough to be a pacifist, here are three important but difficult steps to follow:

1. Forgive and understand your enemies. Socrates taught us that virtue is knowledge. Evil, then, is a failure of knowledge. A pacifist understands that every person is good at heart, and that the key to peace is striving to understand those we cannot understand, and to forgive those we cannot forgive.

2. Find your moral core and stick to it. We must be grounded in a firm bedrock of intellectual confidence in order to win debates and arguments. A smart pacifist is a moral philosopher, and must speak seriously and carefully. To win our most important battles, we must avoid trivial or personality-based arguments. Every moral stance we take matters, and must be worthy of our taking it.

3. Be Fearless. "This is going to hurt," a seasoned political activist recently told a room full of angry voters after the election of Trump. We may think we are ready to protest, but protesting is harder than it looks. Activists go to jail. They get beat up, and sometimes killed. They are mocked and gaslighted and harassed, and are often ridiculed by their own families and friends. It's because we believe so strongly in our cause that we endure whatever it takes to prevail in the end.

In 2018, our troubled world needs the philosophy of pacifism more than ever before.

Hilary Benn: Strong Words For a Weak Policy

Submitted by Marc Eliot Stein on December 4, 2015 8:55 am

A passionate speech in favor of aggressive moves against Syria was delivered in Great Britain's House of Commons by Hilary Benn this week is worth listening to in full. The 14 minute oration has been hailed around the world for its conviction and persuasive power, and Hilary Benn's calm but forceful demeanor has even inspired comparisons to Winston Churchill.

Can Satyagraha Heal Our Gun Insanity?

Submitted by Marc Eliot Stein on December 2, 2015 9:49 pm
Buddha's Eyes Over the National Rifle Association Building in Fairfax, Virginia

I used to work for a government tech contractor in Reston, Virginia. It was a fairly dull job, so I amused myself by exploring the surrounding neighborhoods of wealthy suburbs that ringed Washington D.C. During one of my explorations I suddenly found myself looking up at a building whose sinister presence made my skin creep. I was staring up at the headquarters of the National Rifle Association in Fairfax, Virginia.

Shucking Off Conformity: What Pacifism Means To Me

Submitted by Jay Mejia on November 30, 2015 8:01 pm
We're asking folks to share the stories of how they became committed to their personal or political beliefs. Jay Mejia is a soul banjaro whose people arrived from Mexico and Poland to birth him somewhere in the American Midwest. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri Graduate School of Journalism, has worked at the New York Times, and survived a decade toiling in the cubed bunkers of California's Silicon Valley. He has written for Literary Kicks under the names Jota and Jotadavida. Here's Jay's story ...
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