Synthesis Essay King vs. Aung San Suu Kyi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi once said, “Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.” Gandhi dedicated his life to a role of non-violence amidst times of hate, war, and even bigotry. He was at the forefront on India’s quest for freedom from Britain during the mid 1900’s. Gandhi led hundreds of thousands of Indians into civil disobedience against the British, however; he believed the most important thing was that Indians avoided all types of violence and hatred in their quest for freedom. His belief in a form of non-violence influenced many during and after his life ended in 1948. Two of the individuals it had the biggest impact on were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi. King displayed forms of non-violence during the Civil Rights movement in the mid 1900’s, while Aung San Suu Kyi used politics and a belief in democracy to non-violently express her views. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi each followed Gandhi’s form of non-violence throughout their lives, while King used, “Nonviolent campaigns aimed at ending racial segregation across the South” (King 202), Aung San Suu Kyi peacefully “ Used democracy to reverse the process of decline” (San Suu Kyi 222). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi were each able to display their roles of non-violence publically through many different roles. King became an iconic figure for civil rights during the 1900’s. Aung San Suu Kyi was able to non-violently express her belief in that democracy must be needed in India during the 1980’s and 1990’s when she was the secretary of the National League for Democracy. An election was held during 1990 in Burma, and the National League for Democracy won 59% of the popular vote. Due to the majority victory in the voting system, Aung should have assumed the position of Prime Minister; however the results were nullified and she was placed under house arrest

Cited: Aung, San Suu Kyi. “In Quest Of Democracy.” Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. 2nd ed. Ed. Michael Ausitn. New York: Norton, 2010. 220-225. Print. King, Martin Luther. “Letters From Birmingham City Jail.” Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. 2nd ed. Ed. Michael Austim. New York: Norton, 2010. 202-217. Print.