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fandomhigh2011-03-29 08:58 am
sake-shinigami.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2011-03-29 08:58 am
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The Art of Pacifism; Tuesday, Fifth Period [ 03/29 ].
"Ahhhh ♥," Shunsui, as always, had a happy little smile for his students as they came into class, found their spot in the discussion circle, and could take up their cups of cocoa, "salutations, my little ducklings ♥. I hope you are all ready for another venture into the Art of Pacifism, because today, I shall like to discuss with you another sort of pacifism, a sort that really isn't my cup of sake, but of interest all the same, and that would be the art of anarcho-pacifism ♥."
"Anarchy, for the most part, describes a political state that has no publicly recognized government or enforced political authority ♥; this may or may not imply political disorder, but, typically, it does ♥. Though it is not essential to the movement, many people have a violent impression of anarchism; it is a belief that sometimes propagates tearing down the social and political structures through violent and loud demonstrations and destruction; anarcho-pacifism focuses on a more peaceful and non-violent approach to the anarchist tenants ♥."
"One of the most notable figures of this movement is a American man by the name of Henry David Thoreau; he wrote an essay entitled Civil Disobedience, which I am now passing around for you to look through while we talk ♥. It was first published in 1849 and argues that people should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences, and that people have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice ♥. He was inspired by the plights of slavery and the Mexican-American war, and accesses that governments are more harmful to people than they are helpful; government is primarily an agent of corruption and injustice. It is, he says, 'not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize.'
"But how does one revolutionize without violence? Thoreau proposed that people not wait to vote for a change in the hope that justice will come, because not only must one wait, but a vote, he claims, is a mere wish for change. What one must do is to just be just. If one hopes for the world to be just, then one must not commit injustices, nor must they give injustice their practical support. And participating in an unjust system is supporting it. Paying taxes, for example, was something Thoreau was well known to refuse to do; he refused to allow his money pay for a government that supports slavery and war. He is also well known for a book entitled Walden, which reflects on his years living simply and an attempt to be free of the world around him in the woods of Massachusetts.
"Of course, a government is likely to retaliate in response to person who refuses to obey the laws of the land, so Thoreau lived his life very simply; if he did not have much, then he could not possibly lose much. He did not refuse all taxes. He happily paid taxes for social services, like the highway tax, as it had a benefit to his neighbours to have good roads for travel. But anything that supported the government directly was right out, and he hoped to reason with government on improving itself to a more anarchist state: 'Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.'"
"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience inspired others in anarcho-pacifism, including Leo Tolstoy and Mohandas Gandhi ♥. Tolstoy in particular argued that anarchism must by nature be nonviolent since it is, by definition, opposition to coercion and force, and that since the state is inherently violent, meaningful pacifism must likewise be anarchistic. One of the first and largest anarcho-pacifist movements even bears one of their names: the Tolstoyan movement throughout the peasantry of Russia, inspired by Tolstoy's writings and philosophies. It was based heavily on Christian teaching, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, which I am also passing out for you. Refusing to acknowledge the Tsarist regime, many of the peasants of this revolution were prosecuted and even outright killed for their refusal; a bit heavier of a consequence than Thoreau was relegated to suffer, and a great many of their numbers were killed off entirely.
"Modern anarcho-pacifists have tended to concentrate their attention largely on the creation of libertarian communities, particularly farming communities, within present society, as a kind of peaceful version of the propaganda by deed. And now, some words of wisdom that are not mine, and therefor far better ♥:
"'Anarchism, really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government.' Emma Goldman ♥.
"'Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.' Louis D. Brandeis ♥.
"'Anarchism has but one infallible, unchangeable motto, 'Freedom.' Freedom to discover any truth, freedom to develop, to live naturally and fully.' Lucy Parsons, ♥.
"'First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.' -Mohandas Ghandi ♥.
"I could speak of the development of anarcho-pacifism all day, really ♥." Shunsui gave a smile to the class. "As you can tell, it is a deeply philosophical and often literary philosophy, with a deep and involved history, as many of these facets of pacifism tend to be. But you are not here just to listen to me speak; you are here to have voices yourselves ♥. The usual questions, then, follow: what are your thoughts on anarcho-pacifism? Or anarchy as a philosophy as a whole? Can you think of other forms of practising anarcho-pacifism, and what are you own experiences, if any, with it ♥? Is it something you think could be effective ♥? Or is it just a bunch of romantic dreamers attempting to live a life difficult to obtain ♥? What about the deeper political reasoning here....is a government naturally unjust? Are certain disagreements and injustices requisite to have a well-functioning society? Can you pick and choose from the good and the bad, or do they all have to be taken together?
"So much to discuss ♥! We'd best get started, eh ♥?"
[[please wait for the OCD is now in a cabin in the woods not paying his taxes. Have at it! ]]
"Anarchy, for the most part, describes a political state that has no publicly recognized government or enforced political authority ♥; this may or may not imply political disorder, but, typically, it does ♥. Though it is not essential to the movement, many people have a violent impression of anarchism; it is a belief that sometimes propagates tearing down the social and political structures through violent and loud demonstrations and destruction; anarcho-pacifism focuses on a more peaceful and non-violent approach to the anarchist tenants ♥."
"One of the most notable figures of this movement is a American man by the name of Henry David Thoreau; he wrote an essay entitled Civil Disobedience, which I am now passing around for you to look through while we talk ♥. It was first published in 1849 and argues that people should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences, and that people have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice ♥. He was inspired by the plights of slavery and the Mexican-American war, and accesses that governments are more harmful to people than they are helpful; government is primarily an agent of corruption and injustice. It is, he says, 'not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize.'
"But how does one revolutionize without violence? Thoreau proposed that people not wait to vote for a change in the hope that justice will come, because not only must one wait, but a vote, he claims, is a mere wish for change. What one must do is to just be just. If one hopes for the world to be just, then one must not commit injustices, nor must they give injustice their practical support. And participating in an unjust system is supporting it. Paying taxes, for example, was something Thoreau was well known to refuse to do; he refused to allow his money pay for a government that supports slavery and war. He is also well known for a book entitled Walden, which reflects on his years living simply and an attempt to be free of the world around him in the woods of Massachusetts.
"Of course, a government is likely to retaliate in response to person who refuses to obey the laws of the land, so Thoreau lived his life very simply; if he did not have much, then he could not possibly lose much. He did not refuse all taxes. He happily paid taxes for social services, like the highway tax, as it had a benefit to his neighbours to have good roads for travel. But anything that supported the government directly was right out, and he hoped to reason with government on improving itself to a more anarchist state: 'Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.'"
"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience inspired others in anarcho-pacifism, including Leo Tolstoy and Mohandas Gandhi ♥. Tolstoy in particular argued that anarchism must by nature be nonviolent since it is, by definition, opposition to coercion and force, and that since the state is inherently violent, meaningful pacifism must likewise be anarchistic. One of the first and largest anarcho-pacifist movements even bears one of their names: the Tolstoyan movement throughout the peasantry of Russia, inspired by Tolstoy's writings and philosophies. It was based heavily on Christian teaching, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, which I am also passing out for you. Refusing to acknowledge the Tsarist regime, many of the peasants of this revolution were prosecuted and even outright killed for their refusal; a bit heavier of a consequence than Thoreau was relegated to suffer, and a great many of their numbers were killed off entirely.
"Modern anarcho-pacifists have tended to concentrate their attention largely on the creation of libertarian communities, particularly farming communities, within present society, as a kind of peaceful version of the propaganda by deed. And now, some words of wisdom that are not mine, and therefor far better ♥:
"'Anarchism, really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government.' Emma Goldman ♥.
"'Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.' Louis D. Brandeis ♥.
"'Anarchism has but one infallible, unchangeable motto, 'Freedom.' Freedom to discover any truth, freedom to develop, to live naturally and fully.' Lucy Parsons, ♥.
"'First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.' -Mohandas Ghandi ♥.
"I could speak of the development of anarcho-pacifism all day, really ♥." Shunsui gave a smile to the class. "As you can tell, it is a deeply philosophical and often literary philosophy, with a deep and involved history, as many of these facets of pacifism tend to be. But you are not here just to listen to me speak; you are here to have voices yourselves ♥. The usual questions, then, follow: what are your thoughts on anarcho-pacifism? Or anarchy as a philosophy as a whole? Can you think of other forms of practising anarcho-pacifism, and what are you own experiences, if any, with it ♥? Is it something you think could be effective ♥? Or is it just a bunch of romantic dreamers attempting to live a life difficult to obtain ♥? What about the deeper political reasoning here....is a government naturally unjust? Are certain disagreements and injustices requisite to have a well-functioning society? Can you pick and choose from the good and the bad, or do they all have to be taken together?
"So much to discuss ♥! We'd best get started, eh ♥?"
[[
Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Listen to the Lecture - AoP, 03/29.
Discussion - AoP, 03/29.
Anything is fair game, naturally!
Talk to Shunsui - AoP, 03/29.
OOC - AoP, 03/29.
And the pond is basically a public swimming hole now, too. That was just surreal...
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: OOC - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Listen to the Lecture - AoP, 03/29.
But he did take notes at least.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/29.
Re: Listen to the Lecture - AoP, 03/29.
Fortunately, Shunsui's soothing voice seemed to be keeping the thing calm.