PLEASE People: Violence is NOT the answer!!

[rbajai]

Every day here on DU I see some outrageous things going on in the world. Companies who fire their workers and relocate overseas, only to increase pay/bonuses for execs; * getting away with anything and everything, while lying his stinky behind off at every turn; the growing disconnect between what we hear about the "strong and booming" economy from so-called experts versus the REAL story of how the average everyday working American is struggling just to make ends meet...

These things are unfair, unjust, and simply should not be tolerated. But people, violence is NOT the answer. Just this morning I saw on one post several people advocating the use of violence, claiming that it's the only way to achieve our goals. Well that is simply not true. In fact, it only serves to DISCREDIT our cause by making us look like radicals - or worse - terrorists.

I'll admit - I'm angry at all the injustice in the world today, and especially in these United States. But resorting to violence is simply NOT a viable solution, nor will it change things for the better. It always has the opposite effect. I remember when the Rodney King riots broke out in LA a few years back they interviewed a black man whose store was torn up and looted...by his fellow black brethren. With tears streaming down his face, the man sobbed, "Why they do this? WHY? I'm just tryin' to make it man - just tryin' to make it..."

I felt for the guy. Who wouldn't? Here his store and his very livelihood were destroyed by the very people who thought they were doing their own people a service by "making a statement" using violence as the means. But their actions had unintended consequences which will be felt for years to come.

All one has to do is look at the effectiveness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his methodology. He never advocated "by any means possible." He advocated peaceful civil disobedience using the tools of democracy that remain at our disposal, albeit * is trying hard and fast to destroy those means.

People - let's all agree to say NO to the use of violence today.

[derby378]

1. In the real world...

...nonviolence worked for Gandhi and Vaclav Havel, but it didn't work in Romania, where Ceaucescu was toppled by a violent revolution.

I'm Quaker, myself. I am sympathetic to your concern. And I'm not going to advocate the use of violence, either.

[skylarmae]

2. Uh, for those of us who missed the 'violent' thread this morning

please elaborate...Gee, I miss all the fun...

[mestup]

3. I didn't see a thread advocating violence?

I saw a few yesterday (re: Delphi bankruptcy) where posters wondered if things could get desperate enough for violence to erupt.

[Maat]

4. Absolutely, I do not want to sink to the Extemists level ..

particularly the Religious Right Extremists levels.

That's why I joined an organization involved in the Peace Movement. And I truly MEAN it (that's how I want to live my life and advocate).

I do agree that if I stated that violence would be acceptable to achieve some social or economic goal, I would be starting to sound like the BFEE or the Evil Cabal in Washington. I do NOT want to go there.

[brainshrub]

5. Are you sure you're looking at the same DU I am?

Because I sure as heck don't see violent threads here. Or if I do, the moderators delete them promptly.

We are Liberals. We invented non-violent social change.

[Maat]

7. I haven't seen any advocacy for violence either.

I could imagine a discussion in which the potential for violence by some members of society might be discussed.

And, I agree, Brainshrub, we invented 'non-violent social change,' and THAT is what I am for.

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Like Iraq and Afghanistan? They didn't get any non-violent solutions.

nt

[cynatnite]

8. Every once in a while someone will say 'it's time to take to the streets'

or something to that effect. It's not a majority of DU and it's gone on for as long as I've been here.

I honestly don't take it all that seriously, but some people do wonder if it can happen or what it would take.

We're living in perilous times with the extreme right advocating their way and pushing it in every way possible. They want to deny poeple their rights under the guise of christianity or protecting the country.

It's no surprise that some feel this way.

[Mr_Spock]

9. If company elitist managers want to drive by their kicked aside workers

and live in the same space as the people they abuse, they might be the subject of violence. It's not advocating it to say that it is likely to happen if these outsourcing ass holes don't snap back into reality. It's called the real world. And it has nothing to do with Dem vs. Republican so don't you dare say that is will hurt OUR cause.

[EST]

10. Ummm...

Tell that to Hitler. There are times when violence is the only answer; the trick is figuring out which is which.

[bowens43]

11. OK, no violence today.....but

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- Thomas Jefferson

[me b zola]

12. Well, I'm confused

I've seldom been in a "place" with so many pacifists and other lovers of peace as DU. Hell, none of the churches that I have ever attended have had so many peaceful people as DU.

Take two aspirins and call me in the morning.

[HereSince1628]

13. Sounds great. But, frankly you are preaching to the wrong side

Write that to the gang who are bashing suspect heads with billy clubs.

Write to the gang that are killing people with tasers.

Write that to the gang that have developed narrow beam microwave weapons to cause us unbearable pain by cooking our hypodermis.

Write that to the gang willing to release nausea producing gas on us.

Write that to the gang willing to release anthrax on democratic opponents.

Write that to the gang who are devising justification for first use of nuclear weapons.

[DemInDistress]

16. Here,Here

I support your post.Violence is coming to the USA.If that bird flu
hits America and the Bush Crime Family attempts to quarantine a major
city {NYC,Chicago,LA,} forget about peaceful existence,it will be dog
eat-dog.I am sick and tired of the Grand Larceny perpetuated by the scum in OUR Whitehouse.If Fitzgerald doesn't indict any of the Crime
Family,{rove,libby,cheney,even Din Son}I may lose it.I'm fed up with
the lies.......

[cry baby]

14. can you please site threads that insight violence?

I just haven't seen any.

[Greyhound]

15. "People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

Just like in the movie, ask any cop in a large troubled city. When things go south, people get violent. It is the nature of the beast. Non-violence has worked, but it is the rare exception, not the rule and in each case there was a great deal of violence by the other side.
This is not the same country that produced MLK and "By any means possible" was the reaction to his assassination. We no longer have the right to free speech, except in designated areas where no one will hear it. We no longer have even the illusion of the right to free assembly. We have no right to privacy, protection from search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, right to bear arms, trial by jury, protection from private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Even the 14th amendment has been perverted to the point that a paper entity (corporations) has superior rights to our citizens.
So I ask this, what course is left?
:wtf:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

17. Every once in a while

I see a post by an obvious young person (the cliche' Angry Young Man is a cliche' for a reason!) who urges us all into the streets. But usually they are calmed and quieted. I have never seen a thread of any length that advocates violence. Can you point me to one? I'd be pretty disappointed. The folks I have met here seem, like you, to be dedicated to the concept that violence is not productive. Otherwise we'd think Iraq was a really great idea!

[Kablooie]

18. Unfortunately violence is a guilty pleasure for some.

[oregonindy]

19. never been on the losing end of a war have you?

[unblock]

20. Advocating violence is against DU rules. Please alert any such post.

If anyone notices a thread or post advocating violence in any form, please use the "alert" link to notify the Moderators of the post.

Posts deemed to be in violation of DU rules regarding advocacy of violence are promptly removed.

Thank you,
Unblock,
DU Moderator

[seabeyond]

21. seldom do duers go to violence. not often at all. and if it happens

most all people jump in and say no way

go onto a freeper board, and everything is about violence

we dont get to hold that torch, violence. isnt who the duers or dems are