Someone left us a blueprint for dealing with Tea Party people, and others

[G_j]

www.thekingcenter.org/

Derived from "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence" in Dr. King's book Stride Toward Freedom, Harper & Row, 1958.

Martin Luther King- Six Principals Of Nonviolence

Six Principles of Nonviolence

--Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil...

--Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation...

--Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people. Nonviolence recognizes that evil doers are also victims.

--Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform. Nonviolence willingly accepts the consequences of its acts...

--Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate. Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is active, not passive. Nonviolent love does not sink to the level of the hater. Love restores community and resists injustice.

--Nonviolence recognizes the fact that all life is interrelated.
Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice. The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.

Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change

--Information Gathering: In order to understand and articulate the issue, problem or injustice facing the community, you much first research, investigate and gather all vital information that will increase your understanding of the problem. Know all sides of the issue, including the other party's position.

--Education: It is essential to inform others about your issue. This minimizes misunderstandings, and gains you support and sympathy.

--Personal Commitment: Eliminate hidden motives and prepare yourself to accept suffering, if necessary, in your work for justice.

--Negotiation: Using grace, humor and intelligence, confront the other party with a list of injustices and a plan for addressing and resolving these injustices. Nonviolent communication does not seek to humiliate, but to call forth the good in an opponent.

--Direct Action: Used to morally force the opponent to work with you in resolving the injustices, direct action imposes a "creative tension" into the conflict.

--Reconciliation: Nonviolence does not seek to defeat the opponent, but to seek his/her friendship and understanding. It is directed against evil systems, forces, policies and acts not against persons.
------------------------

[JuniperLea]

1. Perfect...

I've always admired our Joan for living that way... and proving that this works.

[G_j]

8. there is a tremendous strength rooted in nonviolence

a strength that dissipates when one compromises with hatred.
Like the north star, always true to navigate by, never changing.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Recommended. nt

:thumbsup:

[DLnyc]

3. Yes, we could be more effective if we didn't 'take the bait'

and descend to the level of duking it out with persons of opposing persuasions.

On the other hand, once they get us to fight in the same way they do, injustice and hatred win.

[quiet.american]

4. K&R and bookmarked. nt

[Agony]

5. Nonviolence is recommended.

[BeFree]

6. That darn MLK

He keeps bringing stuff to the front that everyone knows we need to do, but all find so very hard to accomplish.

But just striving to do so is an accomplishment, eh?

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, G_j:thumbsup:

[G_j]

9. ==

[JuniperLea]

10. Kicking again...

I thought a lot about this last night... we can't "overcome" until we all understand this concept.

[G_j]

11. thank you

I agree

:hi:

[G_j]

12. ==