Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Why do you think certain rolemodels, like Ghandi and MLKJ are endorsed by society?

Not my question, one I heard a while ago on a different platform, but I was curious. Someone stated that schools and the general populace raise these people on a pedestal because they encourage peaceful protest. If all we have is peaceful protest, a revolution can never come about.

Note: I don't believe this wholly, I'm just curious

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Furiousfrog · 31-35, M

Mlk and gahndi go beyond social rights and equality. These are the first two people to use henery david thoreau's idea of passive resistance.

What a revolutionary idea. Inspire change without violent measures? We had never seen anything like that, at hat scale, in human history

View 7 more replies »

Furiousfrog · 31-35, M

That's all sandy and everything, but you contrarian point is missing foucaults hind sight. You aren't looking at this from the eyes if anyone in an earlier paradiagm.

Remember, the first.police depart was made in Philadelphia because protesters over a.local major election turned the cannons in on the city. Violent protests where all that there was. The idea of union picket lines, was barely aout of reach as early as 200 years ago.

We have grown up in an age where we take this idea for granted. This really was a game changer for the entire world.

BlasphemousOptimist · F

Like I said, I'm young. I barely know my own history enough to argue it, but I do anyway. I'm still learning.

Furiousfrog · 31-35, M

I hope you don't stop.

SW-User

These people aren't arbitrarily chosen, they are the faces of revolutions. There are different ways to conduct non-violent protests in order to get results, and those two men mastered them. It's proof that we don't need bloodshed in order to bring about change.

Protests these days are ineffective because they don't aim to raise a dialogue. They want change without taking the necessary steps to ensure it. It's said that the revolution won't be televised, and that's because the revolution CAN'T be televised. It's a revolution of the mind. You need to find ways to get people to change their minds, and making a bunch of noise while carrying picket signs isn't enough

BlasphemousOptimist · F

Okay. I'm with you here, though I would contend that violence can act as a catalyst and incite change quickly. A show of willingness to die for what you believe in will always do that.

How would a revolution spread then? If picket signs isn't enough? How would a revolution begin? What are the falling of small stones that begin an avalanche of change in the hearts, souls, and minds of the masses?

SW-User

@BlasphemousOptimist: You can document your oppression, like during the Civil Rights Movement where black people were videotaped getting hosed down and attacked by dogs. Video evidence is hard to argue against. You can also put your money where your mouth is, like when black people boycotted the bus lines in Alabama. You can use symbolic gestures, like sitting down during the national anthem. That has raised a dialogue in this country that otherwise would never have been raised. It takes a lot of effort, and changes are gradual, but nonviolence can and has worked

Cinnamon · 31-35, F

That's rather insightful. You have to think that anything that mainstream society celebrates, can't be a real threat to the power structure. On the other hand, those men did bring about very significant changes (India's independence and civil rights for Black people) so I think it is more that their image has been defanged and watered down.

View 4 more replies »

BlasphemousOptimist · F

At this point, I don't have a specific one in mind. I was just looking to dicker about the philosophy behind them :)

Cinnamon · 31-35, F

@BlasphemousOptimist: Well, just so I can dance in your revolution :)

BlasphemousOptimist · F

I'll let you know when I figure it out lol. I'll need a face for it, obviously.

SomeAreBoojums · 51-55, M

I'm not sure Ghandi is endorsed by society to the same extent that MLK is endorsed. MLK has been canonized into the secular sainthood, joining the ranks of dead presidents and others who are "right on the money."

BlasphemousOptimist · F

Just the first one that popped into my head that encourages peaceful protesting. Secular Sainthood: that's good.

I never got the dead presidents thing. Most of them weren't exactly angels...

SW-User

They were able to bring big changes to society and improve the lives of millions of people without violence or the threat of violence.

BlasphemousOptimist · F

But did they? MLKJ might have encouraged peaceful protest, however the civil rights movement was anything but. That's the only reason anything got done, because the portion of society that had been wronged began to fight back.

Aidan · 26-30, F

@BlasphemousOptimist: its not like MLKJ is responsible for the entire civil rights movement >_> so yes on his part it was peaceful

SW-User

Gandhi was a fraud

View 2 more replies »

LoveChild · 26-30, F

Lots of famous people are. Mao apparently raped a different 15 year old virgin every day.

SW-User

@LucyGray: I said that as Gandhi is on every bank note here, hardly anyone knows the truth

BlasphemousOptimist · F

@QueenOfQuirk: In the end do the individual details even matter? So what if he was immoral? He brought about good in the end, didn't he? Do the ends justify his means?

bijouxbroussard · F

I always become especially suspicious when political conservatives tell me things like "Martin Luther King, Jr. was a hero, your people should find someone like him and not listen to folks like Rev. Al Sharpton." If you ask them who their heroes are, however, they mention people like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, etc. So basically they don't really respect Martin Luther King as a universal hero, they simply consider him "safe" because he advocated non-violence. And of course safest because he is, after all, deceased.

BlasphemousOptimist · F

A very good point! Very good indeed! The reason we have an MLKJ street in every town is because he is regaled as a hero by all. I've never heard anyone contest his heroism. Ever. He is a "safe answer."

Add a comment...