r/Pacifism

Hi, recently I got myself into a discussion with my own mind, which made me interested in the topic of this post — Can mujahideen be a pacifist?

Technically, term 'mujahid' means 'fighter', but as history shows, not every fight is brutal and involves in acts of violence. We had for example Salt March in India, which was one of the pacifist campaigns of Gandhi and his supporters. Generally Gandhi made a concept of 'peaceful revolution' an actual thing. This is why I got curious, whether mujaahideen can be a pacifist.

Can a mujahideen rather do things like organising protests, refusing to pay taxes, publishing books or posters with state-banned content, refusing to collaborate with the government and promote acts of insubordination than things like bearing arms and commiting terrorist attacks (like f. e. People's Mujahideens of Iran or Al-Qa'ida)?

This is not a matter of national duty toward the state. If the cause of a war is truly just, there will be no shortage of people willing to fight for it. Modern wars are, to a large extent, not in the interest of ordinary people; we are fighting to defend the interests of politicians and capitalists. Furthermore, wars driven by ambition and private interests would likely become less frequent without mandatory enlistment or conscription.

Those who do not go to war still contribute to society, as they must work to survive and sustain economic and social activities.

The end of mandatory enlistment and conscription would represent an important step toward gender equality. If a cause is genuinely in the people's interest, men and women will fight consciously and voluntarily. Likewise, people with responsibilities related to raising children, pregnant women, and individuals caring for elderly family members would naturally not go to the front lines.

A professional army composed of volunteers is far more consistent with the principles we claim to uphold today. At present, we are not fighting to defend what we love; we are fighting to defend politicians and capitalists, causing suffering to those we love.

Moreover, what is being done to Ukrainian and Russian men is extremely cruel. In Ukraine, there are documented cases of men being forced into vans by government agents for military mobilization under threats and violence. Meanwhile, family members and community members watch in despair, crying and mourning the likely loss of a loved one. I sympathize with Ukrainian citizens who are fleeing the country, with Russian and Ukrainian women who are moving abroad to care for their children or build new lives, and with those who are choosing not to have children in these countries.

It is often argued that women are equally capable of fighting, yet in many contexts they continue to be excluded from frontline combat roles. These differences in gender expectations during wartime end up legitimizing gender differences in peacetime and weakening the legitimate feminist argument for equality.

We urgently need to change global militarism: for dignity, equality between men and women, fewer wars, and the weakening of imperialism.

I want to see some good anti-war slogans (actually any slogan anti-war is good for me, but those analyzed and criticized the nature of war would be better)

I recently learned that between 42,000 and 48,000 people die from gun violence every year in the U.S. alone. I am well aware of the right to bear arms, but firearms are simply too lethal. Innocent children are even losing their lives in mass shootings. I’d like to hear everyone’s opinions. Aren't you exhausted by this gun society?

I am really against war, feel like im too young to die (15 yo) and want everybody to love eachother, i live in Poland and just right across the border there is a war that already affects and could destroy my country. Altough I still feel like a piece of crap because i eat meat and buy H&M clothes. Can i still talk about my peaceful values if i support (in a small way tho) capitalism and the cruel meat industry? I try to be ethical as much as i can but growing up in a conservative (with every day more tolerant and progressive) country is just a pain in the butt, veganism and thrifting is sometimes seen as weird.

Good afternoon, I just joined this subreddit today in hopes to better develop my personal philosophy on pacifism. I thought a good way to do this was to have a discussion about about the topic and learn about the views of others.

what brought you to pacifism ?

what personal philosophy you hold when it comes to pacifism ?

how has your view developed over time ?

Thank you in advance, I look forward to learning more about people and hopefully develop more myself.

First, I want to start with what made me drawn to this philosophy in the first place. And I think it starts with a little independent game known as Undertale that made me receptible to this philosophy when I looked it up a year ago. There was also a lot of other media such as magical girls dululu stuff, and other anime (cough, Mob Psycho 100) that helped me be more receptable, and open to pacifism. Not to say that every media had pacifism that in mind, BUT - they taught mercy, and compassion at least. In fact I think it's kind of ingrained in me that whenever I'm watching media where the antagonist is getting talked down by the compassionate protagonist, emotional moment - and the antagonist dies from some outside force... I hate that shit...

And yet there was also something that made me open to this philosophy - my family's a bunch of gun nuts, lol. Even as a "far-leftist". I don't think I could bring myself to own a gun, with or without pacifism.

Now I've heard of pacifism in passing before, and never in a positive light. So one day I got board then looked it up - no build up whatsoever.

What I found? - Pacifism is not a monolith, there's conditional to absolute pacifism, and to not confuse pacifism with passivism. Then I dived further more, and it resonated with me. Not sure if it was because of who I am, or it's because of who I wanted to be.

Problems trying to adopt this philosophy:

1. It conflicted with my leftist views. "Do I condemn slave revolts?" Comes into mind. And I know that there are plenty of pacifists who reluctantly accept, or reluctantly support slave revolts. I just couldn't reconcile it.

2. Why is violentce 'bad'? And what does that even mean?

3. Pacifism is a moral philosophy, and morals are about what one/people should do or not do. Are people who find themselves in a violent situations yet use violence as a first or second response in that situation a moral failure, and that they must hold themselves accountable? Are those who are nonviolent "morally superior"? I think not. I think not. And I cannot find myself to apply pacifism onto the world.

4. I'm starting to become disillusioned with morals, or at least labeling things as good, bad, evil, right, wrong. It's starting to feel harmful actually. It's terrifying...

This is not a debate, I'm just rambling about my feelings.

THERE are two worlds—one ruled by FEAR and the other by CHARITY (caritas, supernatural love).

The world of Fear is the world of nature—the common hedge-row is filled with vegetables “armed to the teeth” with spikes and thorns and poisons in fear of their enemies, and the hills and dales and seas and rivers and forests and jungles are inhabited by beasts whose lives are one perpetual watch for enemies. The world of CHARITY is the supernatural world in which he that loseth his life for God’s sake shall find it.

The world of FEAR is the world of war—there is no other reason for warring, war-mongers are all desperately afraid. The world of CHARITY is the world of peace—peace-makers have no reason to fear what may happen to them.

The world of FEAR is the triumphant world, the world of triumphal marches and arches, and laurel wreaths. The world of CHARITY is the world which submits to the conqueror, knowing that the earthly conqueror can only conquer earthly things and earthly things only for a day.

Armies—and Arms

The world of FEAR is the world of armies, in which every man carries a gun or a bomb and is always ready to destroy something which otherwise might destroy him. The world of CHARITY is the world of work and workers in which the only arms are men’s arms and in which making things is better than breaking things and enjoying them better than destroying them.

The world of FEAR is the world of armaments. But half the fear in the world of armaments is a fake, the hypocrisy of armamenteers, and the other half is manufactured by politicians. The world of CHARITY is without any passports.

The world of fear is the world of politicians and diplomacy and secret treaties and the buying and selling of promises. The world of CHARITY is the world of anointed kings.

The world of FEAR is the world of lawyers and police and laws and prisons. The world of CHARITY is the world of custom and public opinion and forgiveness and bounty.

Law—and the Spirit

The world of FEAR is the world of rules and regulations and the dead letter of the law. The world of CHARITY is the world quickened by the spirit.

The world of FEAR is the world of anger and violence. The world of CHARITY is the world of the meek, “the terrible meek” who shall inherit the earth.

The world of FEAR is the world of irritability, of nursemaids being cross with their charges and prime ministers with their secretaries. The world of CHARITY is the world of quiet voices and patience.

The world of FEAR is the world of solicitousness. The world of CHARITY is the world in which people do not worry about what may happen tomorrow.

The world of FEAR is the world of commerce and buying and selling and getting and spending—buying cheap and selling dear. The world of CHARITY is the world of work; for it is said, “Let him that stole steal no more, rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him who suffers need.”

Selfish—and Selfles

The world of FEAR is the world of selfishness—“if I don’t look after myself, no-one else will.” The world of CHARITY is the'world of selflessness.

The world of FEAR is the world of bankers and pawnbrokers and moneylenders, and stock-brokers and billbrokers—they all live in desire of gain and in mortal dread of loss; they all yearn for “securities.” The world of CHARITY is the world of barter and “the just price,” a world in which money is neither “cheap” nor “dear, because it is not for sale.

The world of FEAR has produced the world of Woolworth’s and big shops, big business and big dividends. The world of CHARITY is the world of small workshops and hardly any other shops—for the best people to buy from are the people who make things.

The world of FEAR is the world of riches—where thieves break through and steal. The world of CHARITY is the world of poverty. In the world of Charity the poor man is not he who has not been robbed, but he who has not robbed others; not he who has not been loved but he who has loved others rather than himself.

Wealth—and Commonweal

The world of FEAR is the world of the few rich and the many poor. The world of CHARITY is the world of the common good.

The world of FEAR is one in which the rich suffer from indigestion and the poor go hungry. The world of CHARITY is the world in which “the poor shall be fed and the rich shall be merry”—a thing that never yet was since the beginning of the world.

The world of FEAR is the world of machines and “time is money.” The world of CHARITY is the world of craftsmen and “whosoever shall lose his time shall find it.”

The world of FEAR is the world of speed—railways, motor cars, giant ocean liners, telegraphs, telephones, aeroplanes—if we don’t get there quickly we shall lose the train, lose our money, lose the job, lose the deal, lose the battle and generally miss the boat. The world of CHARITY is a slow world, as slow’ as a team of oxen, as slow as the procession of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

Pride and Humility

The world of FEAR is the world of pride, for a man’s pride is like his castles and fortifications—things that make him feel safe. The world of CHARITY is the world of humility for

>He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride.
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

The world of FEAR is the world of the suburbs, where everyone is afraid of what the neighbours may say—“we might be criticized.” The world of CHARITY is the world where people live “over the shop.”

The world of FEAR is the world of “grown up” people. Lord! How worried they are about their responsibilities ! The world of CHARITY is the world of children—but childhood means being simple more than being young. Some children are older than their parents.

The world of FEAR is the world ot the “intellectuals,” in which no-one dares to “burn his boats.” The world of CHARITY is the world of pious folk who know “in whom” they believe.

The world of FEAR is the world of Pharisaism and selfrighteousness. The world of CHARITY is the world of sinners.

So for context if you're unfamiliar with the show. In ATLA our main character Aang is a airbender who fights but refuses to kill people due to his monk like beliefs about not taking a life. This comes to a head at the end of the series and due to the Netflix LA series I wont say what it is. What kind of Pacifism is this? He fights to protect people but he never explicitly kills anyone.

More than ever, there is a strong “us vs. them” mentality in the world. It feels like people are no longer working together or even able to respectfully disagree. Everything has become personal, and people on all sides are becoming increasingly radicalized. Instead of fighting against the people and systems that create many of the world’s problems, we end up fighting each other.

Woke vs. anti-woke.

Conservative vs. progressive.

Left vs. right.

Every piece of media that gets released is attacked from every direction — for supporting a side, for not supporting a side, or, God forbid, for trying to stay neutral.

And this is not happening only in the United States. It feels like this tension exists all over the world. Everyone seems obsessed with being right all the time.

My fear is that this cannot continue forever. So much tension keeps building up, and eventually it feels like something will explode. Sometimes I honestly fear that it could lead to a major war, and I struggle to imagine another resolution.

Do you think the world can rediscover peace without going through another war first?