[Peace-discuss] Rethinking Oct. 27

[Matt Reichel]

> Second, I find you position interesting in that any action can inadvertently
> result in inadvertent violence to a person; I have to wonder what is left.
> What do you define as the defining line?  Walking a picket line with a sign
> on a stick can inadvertently stab someone or poke someone's eye out.  I do
> not think that the possibility of inadvertent violence is a good
> definitional standard. If it were, than one could logically argue that mere
> peaceful demonstrations by some could inadvertently provoke inadvertent
> violence by others who may join the protesters, who might be observing the
> demonstrators, or who oppose the demonstrations; thus, they should not be
> undertaking.


This is a ridiculous reductio ad absurdum, wherein one imagines an improbable worst case scenario as plausible, and thus as a reason against a particular action.

The border line between violence and non violence was probably most significantly threaded by the Weather Underground, who bombed public buildings when they were empty, taking careful precaution to never injure or kill anyone.
Were their actions justifiable as a means of protest against war and imperialism?

I would say for the most part "no," though I have a great admiration for their repeated blasting of the police memorial placed in the old Haymarket square in Chicago.

-
mer











> From: laurie at advancenet.net
> To: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> Subject: RE: [Peace-discuss] Rethinking Oct. 27
> Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:03:48 -0500
> 
> First Karen, for clarification purposes, I am a male.  
> 
> Second, I find you position interesting in that any action can inadvertently
> result in inadvertent violence to a person; I have to wonder what is left.
> What do you define as the defining line?  Walking a picket line with a sign
> on a stick can inadvertently stab someone or poke someone's eye out.  I do
> not think that the possibility of inadvertent violence is a good
> definitional standard. If it were, than one could logically argue that mere
> peaceful demonstrations by some could inadvertently provoke inadvertent
> violence by others who may join the protesters, who might be observing the
> demonstrators, or who oppose the demonstrations; thus, they should not be
> undertaking.
> 
> I think that your standard could probably benefit and be a workable one if
> one qualified it by saying that the violence against property has a high
> probability of resulting in inadvertent violence to persons.  However, it is
> your standard of conduct that we are talking about; and you legitimately can
> use any standard that you want independent of whether or not I agree with it
> or you.  
> 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [mailto:peace-discuss-
> > bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Karen Medina
> > Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 5:33 PM
> > To: Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> > Subject: RE: [Peace-discuss] Rethinking Oct. 27
> > 
> > I looked at Laurie's list of "violence to people" vs. "violence to
> > property" and, since all items on both lists could include inadvertant
> > violence to a person, then everything on her two lists are pretty much
> > not part of what I would be willing to consider.
> > 
> > But there are other views within AWARE and Peace-discuss.
> > 
> > -karen medina
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> > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
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