Nonviolence and the Tao of Social Struggle

[Bruce Hartford]

Holding to nonviolence in face of violent opposition is not the hardest part of engaging in Nonviolent Resistance. Once there is a will to take up nonviolent direct-action, training and group solidarity can solve the problem of remaining nonviolent in the face of provocation. The hardest part of Nonviolent Resistance is overcoming apathy, discouragement, and despair. The hardest part of Nonviolent Resistance is committing yourself to take action and resist.

"There's nothing I can do."
"I have no power or influence."
"You can't fight City Hall."
"One person can't do anything"
"Nothing ever changes, the rich get richer and the poor get children."

This isn't a new problem. As written in the Talmud, a couple of thousand years ago Rabbi Tarfon (circa 70-135ce) taught:

"You are not required to complete the task [of healing the world's ills], but neither are you free to avoid it."

At that time, his world was in a world of hurt:

The Jewish revolt against Rome had been utterly crushed.
Jerusalem had fallen, the city burned.
The Temple of Solomon was destroyed.
Thousands were slaughtered, the gutters ran red with blood.
Hundreds of thousands Jews & Christians were enslaved.
Tens of thousands were tortured to death in Rome's coliseum for amusement of the mob.

There was enormous despair. Tarfon's response was:

"You are not required to complete the task [of healing the world's ills], but neither are you free to avoid it."

Later Talmud commentaries expanded Tarfon's dictum to include:

You don't measure your individual contribution against the totality of the task. You measure your contribution against the totality of your life.

Measured against the pain and injustice that exist in the world, the contribution of any individual — even the greatest individual — is infinitesimally small. You don't have control over the world, but you do have control over how you lead your life.

Healing the world [in Hebrew "Tikkun Olam"] can form:

No part of your life, or
A small part, or
A great part, or
You can dedicate your life to fighting for justice and making the world a better place.

That is the choice that Nonviolent Resisters make.

From Sojourner's Blog