QotD: Thich Nhat Hanh on Violence

[liveonearth]

If nonviolence is a stand, then it would be an attack on violence. But the most visible form of violence is revolutionary and liberational violence. So if you stand for nonviolence, you automatically stand against actual revolution and liberation. Quite distressing! 'No! We are not against revolution or liberation. We are against the other side, the side of the institutions, the side of the oppressors. The violence of the system is much more destructive, much more harmful, although it is well hidden. We call it institutional violence. By calling ourselves nonviolent we are against all violence, but we are first against institutional violence.
--Thich Nhat Hanh

Comments

[skyojos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this. It's good to see this expression from a well known Buddhist leader. Good common sense Buddhism. Taking action against oppression and for liberation is taking action for the sake of life.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was happy to see it too. A Buddhist who recognizes the need for a fight against invisible depersonalized violence. We wish for peace, but peace isn't just going to happen. It takes action, and that action is bound to be confrontational, provocative, and possibly destructive. There must be destruction to make room for creation...