Beyond War and Gandhi: What it means to be workers for peace

[Melissa Ruhl]

As believers in the efficacy of peace, what is our purpose as those who have taken the extra step to become members of Beyond War? Recently, Phil Hanna and I went to a high school here in Eugene to show the introductory video and discuss with the students the things they found interesting and provocative from it. There were several issues the students brought up that have since not left my mind. One fairly obvious question that the students asked was concerning what it is exactly that Beyond War does. We are an educational organization that aims to make peace and not war (or, rather, not fear as one perceptive child wrote on a flag for a BW art exhibition). But what does that mean? Are we fighting for peace? Are we fighting against wars? Are we not fighting at all? If not are we merely talking?! Is talking really going to influence our world to be a world that is beyond war?

Here is an excerpt from Gandhi’s book that I think is quite relevant to this issue:

“During my interview with the Bombay Government the Secretary had expressed his disapproval of a reference to Satyagraha in a speech which I had delivered in Bagasra (in Kathiawad). ‘Is not this a threat?’ he had asked. ‘And do you think a powerful Government will yield to threats?’ (380).”

Simply saying the word Satyagraha had been enough to make the secretary nervous. Earlier in the book, Gandhi had talked about how some thought that Satyagraha, especially when translated as “passive resistance” rather than “active non-violent resistance,” was a mere “weapon of the weak” (318). While I think many have this assumption, it is also clear that in some ways the most powerful tool we have in changing the world is one of creating real human relations non-violently. In other words, the most powerful tool for creating a world of peace is peace itself. If Gandhi had been fighting against the British rule with violence, the British could have easily responded with violence. But he did not. Not only did he end up putting a stop to the British rule, but also the British had a fear of him that it seems they might have not otherwise. The mere whisper of Satyagraha, of active non-violent resistance, was enough to cause a ripple throughout the population. The whisper of peace is no quiet whisper.

The next time someone asks me what this organization is to which I have pledged this year, I will respond, “It is an organization that is about talking.” Yes, it is talking to others about peace that will lead this world to peace. Taking seriously the Traubman’s ideal that an enemy is one whose story I have not heard I think I can better understand Gandhi’s mission and what made it so powerful in his world. Gandhi certainly understood that the ends are the means in the making and he also saw firsthand the force of his words and non-violent methods. In order to bring peace to my world, I myself must embrace peace with myself and with others. While this may sound simple, it is this simplicity that literally changes the world.

[Bill Scheurer]

Melissa, thanks for sharing your discovery! For Beyond War, "talk" is about two things -- education and relationship. For us, education IS action, and peace comes through building relationships of good will. So, we try to help each other "walk the walk" as well as "talk the talk" in all we do.

[Melissa Ruhl]

It is quite significant that in our world we have to second guess whether these things are actually action. We hear people say that negotiation is not really doing anything, that when politicians are debating and discussing they are not really doing anything, that academia is outside of the larger culture because it doesn't really do anything. The more I think about it, the more I realize the amount of negative stereotypes against non-violent or non-aggressive ways of solving issues. Hm. I am quite eager to start the study series next week. I think there is much I need to learn about how to encourage the valuation of "talk" and how I need to embrace it more in my own life. Thanks for your reply Bill!