Martin Luther King Junior, an icon in the civil rights movement, stood for six main principles of nonviolence. The six principles were the guideline and the key to his success in making substantial improvements in the world of segregation and public prejudice. Martin Luther King Junior believed that nonviolence: was a way of life for courageous people, sought way to win friendship and understanding, sought a way to defeat prejudice and not people, held that suffering could educate and transform, chose live instead of hate, and believed that the universe was on the side of fate. These principles will be glanced at in the following paragraphs.
Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. This statement is simply saying that a man of this belief does not have to resort to violent means, which intern gains him a somewhat higher moral authority regarding the matter. Someone who consistently lashes out physically in disagreement is on a lower moral level, and is quite obviously not making a valid attempt to cure the deficiency.
Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. This says that violence is not progressive, but in fact against progress. Nonviolent means not only express an opinion about an issue, but also do not push relationships backwards. Nonviolent means attempt at friendship, whether successful or not. Nonviolence is not filled with rage, which allows the opposite party to ponder the ideas of the expresser.
Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people. If someone disapproves of something, and they do so nonviolently, there is only room to move forward. On the other hand, however, if someone chooses the easiest way, the way of violence, that not only closes the minds of the opposing person, but acts as a catalyst towards their anger. Nonviolence targets the issue, not the supporting party of that issue.
Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform. This is for the