Pacificism and Civil Disobedience – Can It Work?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

(Matthew, NIV)

   I was listening to Black Eyed Peas’ Where Is the Love? when this bit of the song struck a chord in my heart. But rationally thinking, can pacifism and non-violence — ahimsa, and refusal to take up arms against your enemies — work?

   Why It Won’t Work
    – not defending yourself will only make your enemies’ work easier

    – some people would think that self-preservation, and righteous hostile action made to defend yourself — is a fundamental duty of every human; therefore, refusing to fulfill this duty will put you in the “you deserve to be killed” category

   Why It Might Work
   - shame is a powerful force. An armed person, assuming that he’s just a normal human being, may feel ashamed to strike and attack a person who will peacefully just take it. Of course, with these days and age, predator drones and missiles means that combat is getting increasingly depersonalized, so this argument might not be true for long.

   Ah, forget it. Just random thoughts in my head.