Violence & Nonviolence

 

 

 

 

Knowing the Difference Between Violence and Nonviolence

It seems fairly easy to recognize violence in war and when people are physically hurting others. But almost every violent conflict is preceded by a time of violent words, thoughts, and intentions. Can we recognize the violence going on during those times?

We tend to see “violence” when people’s voices are loud or are responding forcefully. However, some of the deepest violence occurs when people are being quiet or polite and much nonviolent action can be loud and powerful. As we consider events in the world, proposed public policies, and our own actions the difference between violence and nonviolence may not always be obvious. Here are a few examples that might help us recognize the difference:

We may be acting with

Violence

when we:

 

We may be acting with

Nonviolence

when we:
  • Try to gain more for ourselves at the expense of others.

  • Collaborate with others for mutual gain.
  • Promote fear and suspicion of others.

  • Promote connection between people.
  • Feel justified in hurting others.

  • Avoid words or actions that hurt or make others afraid.
  • Exclude others because they are different.

  • Include everyone and celebrate our differences.
  • Keep power and decision making in the hands of a favored few.

  • Use democratic decision making and enable widespread participation.
  • Need to be “right” and have others conform to our “right” views.

  • Are willing to listen openly to people with whom we disagree.
  • React with anger.

  • Respond with empathy.
  • Need to win at all costs or to dominate.

  • Cooperate and encourage excellence in everyone’s contributions.
  • Respond to being hurt by desiring vengeance or to “teach them a lesson”.

  • Respond to being hurt by seeking justice and reconciliation.
  • Focus on immediate personal gain / exploitation.

  • Focus on long term gain for all / sustainability.
  • Create stories of the “enemy” about those that oppose us.

  • Recognize the humanness of all people and realize that we share the same needs.

 

Intention matters. As the Nobel Peace prize recipient, H. H. Dalai Lama has said, “We cannot distinguish violence from nonviolence by external factors alone. If our motivation is negative, the action it produces is, in the deepest sense, violent, even though it may appear to be smooth and gentle. Conversely, if our motivation is sincere and positive, but the circumstances require harsh behavior, essentially we are practicing nonviolence.”

For more information about the Nonviolent Peaceforce see www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org and for Western Washington area activities and training contact dberrian@earthlink.net or call (425) 482-3026.

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