The Realistic Possibility of Nonviolence

Violence is a reality that our contemporary world is facing and it cannot be taken for granted. Indeed, violence depicts itself in different forms and structures of the society, and of course, it needs to be tackled accordingly not through forceful means, but rather through nonviolent means. It is for this reason that nonviolence remains to be a realistic possibility of addressing violence adequately with the assurance of achieving positive results. Dorothy Day is, surely, the pathfinder of nonviolence of our contemporary world, who has shown us the permanent positive revolution for a lasting peace. She is an exemplary figure who took and lived the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:3-16) on nonviolence in its totality. This was her manifesto! In order for nonviolence to be realistic, people have to internalize it as a value; hence, become a philosophy, a way of life not only in its theoretical perspective, but also in its pragmatic perspective. It has to be adopted by both individuals and the society at large. This signifies that central to its effectiveness real human power lies in the hearts and minds of people, not in weapons or force. Surely, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”