Nonviolence Isn't Pacifism

author : Drew Hendricks

by Drew Hendricks

I believe that a spider I pick up has the right to bite me if I start to crush her, or if she thinks I might want to do her harm. I believe that I have that same right if someone is attacking me, or attacking my community.

I understand that some want to undertake a dharma that involves much more sacrifice than my own path, and stake out a "moral high ground." I leave these people to do what they do. I have my own path, and I think it is important to share that with you. It differs from many of you, and you will better understand me, and understand my tactics, if you know this about me.

I am not for being right at the end of the day; I'm for staying alive till the end of the day, and learning from my mistakes - apologizing where I need to. I don't take lives for that reason (you can't undo a murder), but I also do not take attacks. I'm nonviolent, but not a pacifist. I will strike back if I'm attacked. I'll also reach out and slap someone who's attacking my community or my friends, and I'll apologize to no one for that. I won't attack someone to get them to do what I want, or get them to stop doing what I dislike. I'll attack someone who is trying to end my (our) right to exist.

Some of us believe in a life after this one, in reincarnation, or karma, whatever.

I do not. I am a materialist.

I also believe that our species is on a cusp of understanding and knowledge and that we will decide the fate of our future as a species within my normal life span. I am for the human race continuing to exist. I know that warfare, retaliation, etc are impediments to this - not solutions. But I also know that getting into the cattle cars and entering the showers passively is not going to help us survive.

I wear my social security number as a Code128 bar code on my right forearm to remind myself, and teach others, about genocide. I actively document the police intelligence and police enforcement functions of our ruling classes so that people can see for themselves the nature of the system which we inhabit, which lives off of our labor. I will not make my choice (of whether to use violence) from a position of not knowing how to use a rifle, or not having one. I won't give up easily my dignity, or my life; I will struggle constantly to retain the birthrights of my heritage on Earth.

I know my role, and I know the role of the ones who choose a more pacifist way to be, way to live and engage. I do not expect to convert anyone, nor do I try. It tires me, and disappoints me, when people try to 'convert' me by telling me things about pacifism which I know as a historian are gross distortions of the facts as I know them.

This tires me, but it does not defeat me. You have a right to make your points, but I have a right to use my own mind and come to my own conclusions as well.

We should probably have a place in our tactics which integrates our roles, and accepts that they are different. Ultimately violence is the imposition of consequences on someone, to bend their will to someone else's will. There are times when this is legitimate, such as when their actions will remove your choices (life, liberty, dignity). There are times when this is NOT legitimate. (they chose different tactics than you).

It is my opinion that the criticism of people who spit at or yell at men (who advocate killing people for being Jewish, or queer, or crippled) is a misdirected attempt to preserve the moral integrity of those engaging in the critique. This control, this need to unify the message and have everyone in the choir sing the same note will ultimately tear our movement asunder (again). Please reconsider whether this is effective.

Our species depends upon our willingness to cooperate with those who support and defend life, and not cooperate with those who would turn it into products and profits.

We do not have to assume the same value system entirely to work together, nor should we.