Comments on: On facing Dr. Horrible.

By: Chriswaterguy

Chriswaterguy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:45:17 +0000

Ahimsa against the British Empire in the mid-20th century worked – I’m guessing there are other times it would not have worked. I’ve heard that Gandhi recognized this, and allowed for the possibility of taking a different approach, but I don’t know if that’s accurate, nor what he might have had in mind.

By: Anthony Jaime

Anthony Jaime — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:25:21 +0000

I agree with Asoka’s view – to a point. I believe that there are necessary exposures to the cycle that violence generates. to counter and divine a more peaceful and EFFECTIVE path…one would need the knowledge and wisdom derived from an understanding of this terrible path. and to foster a movement such as this…you need those who know the path intimately. who can let those moving forward – keep doing so, unhindered.

By: Vinay Gupta

Vinay Gupta — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:48:50 +0000

Asoka, this is a very important comment, and I hope people read and understand what you have said.

Thank you.

By: Asoka

Asoka — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:56:40 +0000

This is indeed a problem and I faced it in the late 60′s. Thanks to Gandhi I was able to become classified as a conscientious objector to war and I was sent to a hospital instead of a war zone.

Perhaps the middle ground would be to declare oneself in opposition to organized violence, yet reserve the right of self-defense in personal situations where violence might occur. In a sense by preventing someone from doing violence to you, you are not a complete pacifist but you are preventing violence.

Where I really have problems is when politicians make decisions about bombing some country, or invading and occupying some country (for whatever reason). Then they train other people’s kids to kill and send them to go kill “enemy” kids in the “enemy” country, kids who really have no beef with each other.

Upon returning from war they call the kids heroes and give them medals and economic benefits, and social approval for the bombs they dropped or bullets they fired to kill people they never met in person.) It is really pretty sick, this institutionalization of violence that often generates more hatred, desire for revenge, and further violence.

I kind of would like to err on the side of ahimsa or the Buddhist practice of lovingkindness.

Actually I think what Gandhi said still makes a lot of sense and it has always guided my life: There are things you can be willing to die for (in a satyagraha campaign, for example), but nothing to be willing to kill for.