If war is not the answer, then what is? The practical instruments of peace negotiation, aid, and development assistance, the psychological instrument of respect for human dignity and equality, and the political instruments of human, juridical, and civil rights provide a more effective, just, and moral answer.
History tells us that nonviolent social movements have played a key role in bringing about significant social change. Around the world, nonviolent movements have fostered democracy, struggled for freedom, taken action for justice, protected the earth, and toiled for the survival and dignity of human beings everywhere. In the United States, many specific changes in public policy — women’s suffrage, the eight hour work day, steps to curb racial segregation, environmental safeguards, stopping the Vietnam War, limiting nuclear testing, creating the American Disabilities Act, winning labor contracts for the migrant poor through the United Farm Workers, and many others — were the direct consequence of nonviolent social movements.
The words of the late Bill Moyer, a longtime activist and strategic thinker....
“The power of movements is directly proportional to the forcefulness with which the grassroots exert their discontent and demand change. The central issue of social movements, therefore, is the struggle between the movement and the powerholders to win the hearts (sympathies), minds (public opinion), and active support of the great majority of the populace, which ultimately holds the power to either preserve the status quo or create change.” Powerholders will not change their policies until there is overwhelming pressure from the general population. To succeed, the movement’s chief focus therefore must be the general population of ordinary citizens, not the powerholders directly.
The spiritual practice of our time is to take hold of one another’s hand and cross into the crossroads of peace and justice.
