Dialectic of Nonviolence

Friends,

One of the key ploys of successful parenting is to learn to provide a more attractive alternative to the child’s behavior we want to change. And the same strategy applies to ourselves and the societal and political forces that define us. 

One of the primary approaches in nonviolent intervention is best explained with a visual of two hands I call the dialectic of nonviolence. One hand pushes out from the chest in opposition, and the other hand draws back to the chest with an invitation to a more heartfelt, life-affirming alternative.. If I want to limit my intake of the news, for example, I need to resist the impulse to check the latest breaking news several times a day and replace it with an alternative activity such as playing music, exercise, art or reading that offers uplift and hope. (I enjoy a daily blog from Richard Rohr, for example.). Of course, we really need to feel a change is important enough to apply the disciple necessary to offer ourselves alternatives.

And we need to be aware of oppositional/invitational balance as we deal with the political challenges in the coming year. Yes, there will be times when we will need to strategically apply opposition to Trump policies that violate our own values systems and the rights of others, perhaps with non-cooperation or strategic impositions. Let us just now wait to see what these may actually look like. But when the time comes we need to also envision what alternatives policies or practices are more consistent with our values. If we oppose the Trump administration’s policies of deportation of immigrants, for example, we immediately want to work just as strongly and intentionally to develop alternatives to protect those in jeopardy. As a general strategy, this may seem inadequate, but our creative juices, imaginations, and determinations will create very viable alternatives that we may not yet imagine but which will evolve from necessity, especially if we work together in trust and good will. 

The two main emotional drivers of those who have joined to elect Trump are greed (the technocrats like Musk) and a deep level of disdain, even apparent hatred, for democracy and the marginalized (the Bannon wing) with Trump in the middle. These are actually conflicting values, and Trump will likely find it difficult to control them. So an alternative strategy to oppose these forces is to foster among ourselves, and any who will join us, a commitment to the “force more powerful” of compassion and nonviolence. I am convinced that at heart the majority of people choose to offer mutual support (as we always doing during a disaster or crisis) that exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and nonviolence. We therefore need to reinforce our “better angels” as vocally and strategically as we can. In spite of Kamala Harris' loss in the election she was generally on track for supporting the best of the Biden administration’s commitment to stand with the poor, the marginalized, the tribes, the working people, and the environment, so we already have a model we need to perfect and expand. We cannot loose that thread of working toward the common good. It is difficult, of course, to oppose the emotional power of greed and deep disdain when it is so effectively broadcast. But this is the task of our personal and political lives for the immediate future 

I am always impressed how the Jesus narrative models the strategy I propose of a combination of opposition and offering creative, attractive alternatives. Jesus opposed the entrenched positions of power and prestige within his own community as well as the political establishment. But his opposition always included a more nonviolent human, inclusive, political, cultural, and spiritual alternative ethic, not only for his times, but for posterity. His vision of a beloved community is a model for our lives today. I truly believe we each need to work to establish a contemporary model for the beloved community in spite of the considerable political and cultural challenges we will face. Yes, we will need to begin corralling our own prejudices, doubts and fears about the redemptive value of nonviolence, but we can still all make a personal, resolute commitment to treat each other with kindness and respect, and model and encourage this behavior to our children, family members, and the wider community to do the same. I believe people will welcome and embrace the alternative.

Peace,
Tom