Soul of Nonviolence - Withdrawal of Support
“The discipline of nonviolence requires of us that we move into the various forms of noncooperation. We will probably move slowly, one step at a time. Each step will lead to another step; each step will be a withdrawal from support of what is wrong and at the same time a building of an alternative.”
Furthering the movement of noncooperation, this week’s quote from Shelley Douglass discusses the practice as fundamental to the discipline of nonviolence. Approaching the process one step at a time allows us to grow respect and compassion for ourselves along the way to see the kind of growth we are capable of.
Veronica points out that in the discipline of nonviolence, we are called to be architects of peace. And tying in a quote from Michael Nagler, she discusses how we do not need different individuals in power so much as we need different power in individuals. That power involves gentle patience with ourselves and with the unfolding of this story.