Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: March 28, 2024, 7:33 am

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
#1
Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
I've long been an advocate of nonviolent protest. It seems to me to be very effective, and I see lots of downsides to using violent means, not least of which that it seems to generate free publicity for whoever the people resorting to violence are against.

But what I'm hearing when I try to promote that kind of protest/resistance against oppression is that it's my white cis-male privilege speaking. I'm not the designated target, not obviously in an endangered group, so it's easy for me to say 'stay disciplined, don't let yourself be provoked to violence, it only serves your enemies.'

I suppose it IS easy for me to say and that I don't face the same kind of danger and don't have the same anger and fear. I acknowledge that. But it doesn't mean I'm wrong. But something else might.

Should I revisit my stance on nonviolence? Is it passé in the current situation? I don't think the people advocating violence are making much sense, does anyone else get it? I'm not asking if violence is justified, if someone is screaming in your face about what they're going to do to people like you once the law is on their side, punching them in the face may not be legal or strategic, but I'm not going to tell you they didn't deserve it or you don't deserve to do it. But I think opposing them in other ways is smarter and that hitting them is counter-productive to your aims. Am I wrong?
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
Reply
#2
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
I don't think you're wrong, either, but I recognize that I may be missing something.
Reply
#3
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
(February 13, 2017 at 7:02 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Should I revisit my stance on nonviolence? Is it passé in the current situation?

No, you shouldn't. My ancestors took up arms to fight fascism, but the situation they found themselves in is still a far cry from what this is. Yes, you have to fight it every step of the way. Non violently. In order for violence never to be needed again.
[Image: Bumper+Sticker+-+Asheville+-+Praise+Dog3.JPG]
Reply
#4
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
It's a question which has occurred to me before. At what point does oppression become bad enough that you need to fight back with more than words? At what point do you abandon working within the system and seek instead to overthrow it?
[Image: extraordinarywoo-sig.jpg]
Reply
#5
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
Violence should ever only be a last resort when you or someone else is threatened. Even then it's a judgement call as there may be better options available if you use your brains. 

To go violent at a protest is an instant fail. You might as well just tell your opponents they were right about you all along and that neither you nor your cause deserve an ounce of respect. It's not just dangerous, it's counter productive.
If god was real he wouldn't need middle men to explain his wants or do his bidding.
Reply
#6
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
(February 13, 2017 at 7:16 pm)Jörmungandr Wrote: At what point do you abandon working within the system and seek instead to overthrow it?

The moment the system is replaced with one that doesn't grant civil liberties anymore. The moment the regime is obviously outside the law and discards the constitution. The moment checks and balances, such as the rule of law, doesn't work anymore.

These are at least my parameters without knowing if I had the guts to actually stand up.
[Image: Bumper+Sticker+-+Asheville+-+Praise+Dog3.JPG]
Reply
#7
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
(February 13, 2017 at 7:02 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Should I revisit my stance on nonviolence? Is it passé in the current situation? I don't think the people advocating violence are making much sense, does anyone else get it? I'm not asking if violence is justified, if someone is screaming in your face about what they're going to do to people like you once the law is on their side, punching them in the face may not be legal or strategic, but I'm not going to tell you they didn't deserve it or you don't deserve to do it. But I think opposing them in other ways is smarter and that hitting them is counter-productive to your aims. Am I wrong?

I think you're dead-on right. Resorting to violence is in itself a means of delivering a weapon into the hands of your antagonist -- a legal weapon which can, and often has, snuffed out otherwise legitimate points.

The only time violence is appropriate is, in my view, in response to violence. You've got my vote, Mr A.

Reply
#8
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
(February 13, 2017 at 7:23 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: The only time violence is appropriate is, in my view, in response to violence. You've got my vote, Mr A.

Yes, and that is a reason. Probably the one and only one. The moment you notice that the rule of force replaces the rule of law.
[Image: Bumper+Sticker+-+Asheville+-+Praise+Dog3.JPG]
Reply
#9
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
(February 13, 2017 at 7:02 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: I've long been an advocate of nonviolent protest. It seems to me to be very effective, and I see lots of downsides to using violent means, not least of which that it seems to generate free publicity for whoever the people resorting to violence are against.

But what I'm hearing when I try to promote that kind of protest/resistance against oppression is that it's my white cis-male privilege speaking. I'm not the designated target, not obviously in an endangered group, so it's easy for me to say 'stay disciplined, don't let yourself be provoked to violence, it only serves your enemies.'

I suppose it IS easy for me to say and that I don't face the same kind of danger and don't have the same anger and fear. I acknowledge that. But it doesn't mean I'm wrong. But something else might.

Should I revisit my stance on nonviolence? Is it passé in the current situation? I don't think the people advocating violence are making much sense, does anyone else get it? I'm not asking if violence is justified, if someone is screaming in your face about what they're going to do to people like you once the law is on their side, punching them in the face may not be legal or strategic, but I'm not going to tell you they didn't deserve it or you don't deserve to do it. But I think opposing them in other ways is smarter and that hitting them is counter-productive to your aims. Am I wrong?

It depends on so many factors.  Who is the person protesting, what are they protesting against, what other possible methods of protesting could be more useful, how useful will violence be in the long run.  What could be the best possible outcome.

Protesting is something that's been done in so many different contexts and can be done in future in so many possible contexts, asking if non violent protest is good or bad is like asking if it's good to drink liquid or not.


Are you ready for the fire? We are firemen. WE ARE FIREMEN! The heat doesn’t bother us. We live in the heat. We train in the heat. It tells us that we’re ready, we’re at home, we’re where we’re supposed to be. Flames don’t intimidate us. What do we do? We control the flame. We control them. We move the flames where we want to. And then we extinguish them.

Impersonation is treason.





Reply
#10
RE: Nonviolent Protest and Resistance Privileged
(February 13, 2017 at 7:16 pm)Jörmungandr Wrote: It's a question which has occurred to me before.  At what point does oppression become bad enough that you need to fight back with more than words?  At what point do you abandon working within the system and seek instead to overthrow it?

We can all come up with situations in which the oppression is so bad that violence could be considered self defense but I don't think that's what is being asked here.  

I believe that many people are willing to go violent at protests because violent people like an excuse to justify the violence they want to engage in, not because their cause actually justifies it.
If god was real he wouldn't need middle men to explain his wants or do his bidding.
Reply



Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Trucker Protest - End all COVID Mandates Now HappySkeptic 44 1820 February 23, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Last Post: Disagreeable
  Protest Voting BrianSoddingBoru4 42 1545 October 17, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Last Post: Draconic Aiur
  Protest Covid Concerns The Architect Of Fate 3 521 June 5, 2020 at 8:48 am
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  Going to a Protest and I Need Sign Ideas Seraphina 8 753 June 26, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Last Post: Fireball
  Begium greeted Trump with protest Foxaèr 8 2552 May 25, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Last Post: Amarok
  The end of free speech and free protest in the UK Gooders1002 3 1410 January 31, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Last Post: Minimalist
  Methinks the Republicans doth protest too much about voter fraud Ryantology 10 3138 November 10, 2013 at 4:51 am
Last Post: T.J.
  Spaniards protest, police brutality. (Graphic) JohnDG 9 3971 October 2, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Last Post: cratehorus
  27th of May protest of GM research Ziploc Surprise 28 10579 May 9, 2012 at 8:40 am
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  Ladies I fully support this method of protest. downbeatplumb 49 13773 December 22, 2011 at 10:24 am
Last Post: Epimethean



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)