Week 6

"Hayim Greenberg, editor of The Jewish Frontier and an admirer of Gandhi, wrote to him, ‘a Jewish Gandhi in Germany, should one arise, could function for about five minutes and would be promptly taken to the guillotine.’ Gandhi replied that Hitler too was a human being, that the Jews, who were going to be slaughtered anyway, should have asserted their dignity and freely chosen their way of death, and that such an action was bound to have an effect on ordinary Germans, if not immediately at least a little later (lxviii. 137–41). His reply had a point, but it rested on an uncritical faith in the power of non-violence and showed little understanding of the complex ways in which totalitarian systems brutalized the community, demoralized the victims, distorted public discourse, and undermined the basic preconditions of satyagraha. (Bikhu Parekh, Gandhi, A short Introduction, p.75)"

Gandhi's peaceful means have not worked everywhere. While his methods have not been followed to the strictest precision even by his most beloved followers, such as Martin Luther King, the educated and western world still believes that nonviolent soul force has a greater force on malevolent forces.

I can only speak from my experience in Hong Kong. Still, satyagraha didn't take off in my part of the world precisely because it asks us appeals to the better angels of our opponents who thus became our most vaunted enemies. The Chinese in Beijing and Hong Kong had used ethnic pride and Opium War shame to gain a foothold into the established industries and tycoons of Hong Kong before building up astroturf political operations that would literally and figuratively buy a greater vote share at every election. Whether it be the characteristic lunchbox, pillow, or little luxuries that Pro Beijing parties use to entice people to embrace a lifeless fuutre as capital keyhole and sychophantic worshipper to the regime. 

While Hong Kong pro-democrats have tried (without heart) to emulate non violence, love, and affection. THe recent turn towards a vengeful and righteous anger towards our enemies eminates from a more authentic and prideful spirit that satisfies emotional needs. While people do recognize the need for peace, it's hard to do so when one side simply wants a more democratic form of government, and the other wants all form of opposition to be neutered, sinicinzed, and patronized.