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| Photo by French Photographer Marc Riboud |
I've had mixed feelings about this holiday for much of my adult life. But my relationship to the day shifted with a growing realization: choice is a slippery thing. A person makes choices based on what she knows and understands, her vision of the world as well as her perception of herself.
Once upon a time, without even realizing it, I based my choices on the notion that power and authority were right and must be honored. And after all, authority figures knew best AND often argued love as a motivator. Subconsciously, I believed that my own instincts were suspect, requiring validation from older, wiser heads. Cooperate and all will be well. Challenge authority and things get unpleasant.
But authority figures can send conflicting messages:
You can do anything you set your mind to. Don't you want to get married and have children?
We love you just as you are. You shouldn't be so sensitive.
Art is nice. How much are you paid for that?
Or, for a day like today:
We follow the Prince of Peace (as a Christian nation). Freedom isn't free.
Life abounds with conflicting messages. And fear, I notice, usually ties snugly into many of them.
F. Scott Fitzgerald makes a compelling argument:
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise."A determination to make things otherwise motivates many Americans who go to war. I honor and respect that. I also see the choice of war as a hopeless action that breeds more hopelessness. Exhibit A: History. Yes, Americans value the worth, rights and freedom of the individual. However, war explicitly argues that some individuals are more valuable than others. A love of freedom becomes a hatred and fear of "the other".
A week ago I attended a Nonviolent Direct Action workshop. I met 24 engaging people from various backgrounds, each with experience in culture jamming, i.e. demonstrating. I have none. The highlight of the day for me: reflecting on the work and tenants of effective Nonviolence activists: Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr.
I've been thinking about them ever since.
Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding
Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people
Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform
Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate
Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice
Follow the hyper-link for explanations of each. These tenants resonate deeply with me. They open life-affirming options and give me new tools to examine my motives and the underlying, often conflicting, messages that birthed them.
I step away from the fear narratives of my own conflicting messages. I choose to love, but disagree with, voices of authority that promote war as a good, or even the best, answer. I honor people who choose to fight, but lament the limited choices and lack of imagination the current culture presents.
I choose to be a culture jammer.
How? In many small ways. By pursing peace in my own life. By listening to my own heart. By creating visual laughter. By choosing friendship, patience, and understanding toward voices that argue that my little artistic life, like a flower in a gun-barrel, is ridiculous. After all, love is stronger than fear; love casts out all fear.
How do the tenants of Nonviolence speak to you? Please comment.
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4 comments:
Rebecca, I have believed in nonviolence for a very long time but never took action. Finally when I felt unsettled in my catholic religion I chose to look in a nonviolent, loving, nonjudgemental, serene, peaceful way of life. I found it in a group of people who are called the enlightened ones, light workers or followers of peace and love. I have never been so happy and so contented with who I choose to be around and what I choose to do with my life. I meditate, do yoga, spread love and peace to all my closest friends and firmly believe in a nonviolent world. We call it "ahimsa" which means nonviolence to all living things. I'm very blessed that this way of life has come to me.
Love, light and peace my friend. xo
Thank you so much for writing, Cathi. Nonviolent communication (NVC) a vague idea to me until quite recently. Then I read Marshall Rosenberg's book: Nonviolent Communication: A Language for Life. Turned my world up. side. down! Like you, I'm so thankful that this "way of life" came to me.
Love, light & peace to you too, dear one.
Hi Rebecca, thanks for putting your thoughts down. My first reaction is that I have the luxury to pursue a peaceful existence. But when I generalize out it always seems like someone has to take on the responsibility to defend our borders. I have never been able to figure out how everyone can be non-violent in a world where human nature is still so imperfect. I do agree that we need to take our own authority seriously, and celebrate art and treat each other with great respect and gentleness. Looking forward to more discussion over tea.
kriss, your reference to borders gets me thinking. as a newbie to nonviolence, i look at the hopelessness and still see hope. what if our national attitude toward outsiders was not one of defense but one of exchange? what if our international policies cultivated peace, encouraged sustainability, and supported education? i see many interesting discussions over tea, to be sure :D thanks for weighing in!
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