Paste your essay in here…Throughout history there has been people who have tried to change social injustices by heroic action. Both Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolent resistance to crusade for change. Instead of using violence with violence against their aggressors, they chose to resist unfair laws and called for social reform by nonviolent methods. Non-violent protests methods were used by both Dr. King and Gandhi to draw attention to their cause and the actions of their oppressors show society that Dr. King, Gandhi, and their supporters were not violent and uneducated people they had been portrayed.
During the 1900’s, there was individual named Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian Nationalist. Gandhi was the leader of the Indian Independence Moment against the British rule in India. Gandhi at times would, “attack Western materialism and individualism (p.436).” The people of India praised him for many of his Hindu traditions, along with him attacking the, “caste system and urged harmony with Muslims (p.436).”
Gandhi Nation Identity represents customary traditions, including culture, language, and ethnic background for his people. Not only did Gandhi continue believing in his identity, he believed all faiths can come together and join his cause for equality. He wanted self-independence and self-determination for his country and people to move forward against the British rule in a non-violent manner. Gandhi’s mission was to be free from government control and to continue to adopt their own rules, culture, and traditions.
Where Gandhi lived was under the control of Great Britain. After World War II, The United Kingdom was under economic hardship and Gandhi saw limits to England’s control. Gandhi viewed nonviolence as the opportunity to show the harshness of Britain’s measures by contrasting them with his followers’ peaceful protests, long term boycotts and eating fasts.
During the 1960’s, there were many changes in the United States. One particular change was the civil rights moment. The actions taken by Dr. Martin Luther King symbolized an unparallel amount of hope for change. When he spoke of freedom from discrimination, his speeches resonated with the people and had a powerful effect on society. Dr. King was known for his non-violent approach throughout the civil rights moment. One of Dr. King’s beliefswas to advocate for peace in all walks of life and believed that all of society could separate their barriers from judging based on the color of their skin.
Dr. King had a similar philosophy with Gandhi. Their philosophy was to conduct a non-violent approach during their protests with those who objected. “We are called to speak for the weak. For the voiceless, for the victims of our nation and those it calls “enemy” for no document from human hands can make these humans any less our brothers. (King, Beyond Vietnam Speech).” He also stated, “Here is the true meaning and value of compassion and nonviolence, when it helps us to see the enemy’s point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves. For from his view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition (King, Beyond Vietnam Speech).”
In light of law enforcement brutality and repeated attacks by whites on minority races, many seemed confused by the reasoning and necessity of nonviolence, Dr. King saw it previously used by Mahatma Gandhi in India with success. Many argued though that India was a different situation due to having a different culture, a different history, and was under different circumstances, racial oppression versus governmental oppression
Dr. King is revered for his leading activism for equality in American history, for standing up against racial inequality through the use of nonviolent protests. Many consider him the reason that racial equity laws and opinions were changed. Other activists who shared King’s dilemma about racism and hypocrisy in a modern democracy instead used violence to fight violence and therefore King’s message was not always accepted. For a time, the violent movements created the type of sideshow that may have caused more trouble.
To Dr. King, African-Americans had suffered far too long. Dr. King found himself ready to act against racial bias and hatred. He adopted nonviolence as an active action of will. This would give way to love, equity, and peace instead of hatred, inequity, and violence. Dr. King saw the need for action due to the repeated actions through history of torture, lynching, rape, and humiliation of his people.
Gandhi and Dr. King recognized that love was the motivation and applied it to their lifestyles. King believed he was justified in his actions against segregation because his primary motive was love, and that any change resulting from his stance against injustice would be towards equal treatment. Many who opposed them saw them as people violating the law. Those laws were what Gandhi and King were fighting against. Gandhi and Dr. King were known for what they stood for, but more importantly the results their words had on people in their countries and around the world.
Gandhi and Dr. King understood what they needed to do to alter the culture and opinions of people the world. The difference between Gandhi and Dr. King is noticeable in what they define as their life purpose. Gandhi is focused on being prepared in spirit. He asserted that the mind must be in the right place in daily life. “Complete civil disobedience is a state of peaceful rebellion – a refusal to obey every single State-made law (Gandhi).” This approach relegated action to a secondary role and not the main focus.
Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi both fought for their people in similar styles, although in different contexts. Gandhi wanted freedom for his people from the British. Dr. King wanted his people to be treated as equals and not as second class citizens. By using nonviolence, both Gandhi and Dr. King showcased their causes as civilized and moral, gaining people’s sympathy. Gandhi made the British look to be barbaric by beating and killing people who did not fight back. In King's case, he utilized the belief of turning the other cheek and loving your enemies, to gather sympathy and draw people’s attention on the need for change.
Nonviolent protests and marches occur often in modern times and some lead to change, while others lead to violence. The Black Lives Matter movement, along with protests in the Middle East against oppressive governments, and protests against the G8 summits start peacefully but often turn violent. There are always a few people in every crowd that believe that violence is the answer. They forgot the teachings of Gandhi and Dr. King, or they no longer believe that non-violent protests work.
Everyone, no matter race, color, religion, sexuality, or nationality, deserve to be treated compassionately. Equity is achieved when there are equal rights, or a country is free from foreign power and civil unrest. Nonviolence was the spark for various movements afterward and when the motivation for those movements is to use non-violence, the outcomes have been positive.