Difference Between Nonviolence And Non Violence

We can choose the road of bloodshed, tears, and agony, or we can fight to go along a road of peace, triumph, and brightness. These two roads are defined as violence and nonviolence. There is a stark difference between violence and nonviolence. Nonviolence is the use of peace to bring upon social reforms. When violence is used to bring upon social reform, there is an inevitable chance for people to get hurt, yet a slim chance to bring upon social reform. Nonviolence, however, has the opposite outcome. So, what makes nonviolence so effective compared to violence? And what makes nonviolence work so well? While the violence and wars maybe noted and glorified in history, it is the nonviolence movements that create the larger impact for change. Because
A notable nonviolence activist and figure is Nelson Mandela who, “brought down the infamous apartheid system of South Africa,” and was forced to spend, “ten thousand days . . . in a prison . . . [however] Mandela never retreated a step. When the outside world learned of his staunch battle, people began supporting him” (Krieger and Ikeda 5). Nelson Mandela is a prime example of an influential, nonviolent leader. Not only has he saved people from the corrupt, apartheid system of Africa, but he also did not allow being imprisoned stop his movement. Nelson Mandela not only had a large nonviolence movement, but it has helped him become well known and a social reform advocate. His success and others’ show how effective nonviolence is. Martin Luther King Jr. was also an influential nonviolent leader who fought against social injustice, “King appealed to the moral law as superior to human law and argued that the laws he disobeyed were unjust. He never claimed to be above the law, but a follower of the higher law. This respect for the rule of law is impressive to good citizens of a free society and lends credibility to the cause” (Shippy). This shows how Martin Luther King Jr. is a powerful leader who practiced nonviolence in his social movements. He is a worldwide known nonviolence advocate and also helped push for changes against segregation in the United States. Several others are pushing
For example, one of the major things that needs to be considered is evident when comparing two movements, such as social equality for African Americans and pro-life movement. Consider Martin Luther King’s fight against segregation, he was fighting for something tangible, something that can be seen (segregation). While pro-life movements concern unborn children which are intangible, unborn children cannot be seen and the wrong being done to them cannot be seen (Shippy). The tangibility of the problem is extremely important. If people can see the conflict being inflicted and the people it is affecting, the nonviolent movement fighting against this conflict will easily gain supporters. It is easier for a nonviolent movement to gain support and become successful if the things that are being affected are physical and can be seen. This aspect helps a movement gain support, thus increasing its success. The leaders leading the nonviolence movements also play an important part in determining the success of a movement. An example of a strong, supported leader is the Dalai Lama, “His non-violent campaigning has had scant effect in China itself–its main impact has been abroad. In galvanizing international public opinion, the Dalai Lama has become a symbol for Tibetan