Pacifism as a virtue is fine, though it won’t stop actual Nazis. it’s apathy and disillusionment that are killing us
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
this was the first quote I thought of after having read Orwell’s. I think they’re both talking around the same thing here and I agree with them on it.
Pacifism is a virtue for those who will be unaffected either way, or who benefit from the status quo. More to the point, it’s convenient and easy to do nothing while feeling morally superior. And it’s the position of people who look at the violence of the conflict and conclude that both sides are the same. Because they don’t want to inconvenience themselves with having to look any deeper, learn anything more, or get involved in any manner. Afterall… it doesn’t affect them, so its easy to be a smug pacifist.
Pacifism as a virtue is fine, though it won’t stop actual Nazis. it’s apathy and disillusionment that are killing us
- MLK
this was the first quote I thought of after having read Orwell’s. I think they’re both talking around the same thing here and I agree with them on it.
Pacifism is a virtue for those who will be unaffected either way, or who benefit from the status quo. More to the point, it’s convenient and easy to do nothing while feeling morally superior. And it’s the position of people who look at the violence of the conflict and conclude that both sides are the same. Because they don’t want to inconvenience themselves with having to look any deeper, learn anything more, or get involved in any manner. Afterall… it doesn’t affect them, so its easy to be a smug pacifist.