Lunchtime Talking Point: Violence or non-violence?

The issue of the violent conflict between Palestine/Gaza and Israel has been a significant topic of debate since the attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. Some scholars argue that a "terrorism-justifying" ideology may be a (direct) response to foreign occupation (Moghadam, 2006; Collard-Wexler et al., 2014).

But, do you believe that escalating violence and killing more Palestinians in the name of this "war" is the solution?

Or are you a believer in non-violence?

Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian leader and activist, advocated for the use of non-violence rather than resorting to violence. He believed that violence only begets more violence. Gandhi considered non-violence as an active form of resistance against violence, rather than a passive state. He stated, "Nonviolence is not a resignation from fighting against wickedness but a more active and genuine fight against wickedness compared to retaliation which only increases it" (M.K. Gandhi, par. 458).

Socrates' philosophy on self-reflection is relevant to discussing methods of violence or non-violence. He famously proclaimed, "An unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates).

The question of whether to choose violence or non-violence in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (and its long history of occupation/settler violence) requires individuals to introspectively examine their own purpose and existence as well as that of people worldwide. Through this process of self-reflection, we can inspire each other to engage in peaceful dialogue and work towards reconciliation.

In this meetup we encourage you to express your thoughts on violence and/or non-violence. Your insights will greatly contribute to the fruitful discussion we aim to have.

Ali

References:

Collard-Wexler, S., Pischedda, C. and Smith, M.G. (2014) ‘Do Foreign Occupations Cause Suicide Attacks?’, The Journal of conflict resolution, 58(4), pp. 625–657. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002713478558.

Gandhi, M. K. (year unknown) My Life is my message. Avaialble at: https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/gstruggle.htm Accessed: 31 Dec 2023.

Moghadam, A. (2006) ‘Suicide Terrorism, Occupation, and the Globalization of Martyrdom: A Critique of Dying to Win’, Studies in conflict and terrorism, 29(8), pp. 707–729. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10576100600561907.

Rules:
Welcome to this friendly discussion and debate on various issues. It is likely to be passionate, but it's important to adhere to a few rules. Firstly, attacking or being rude to the other participants is strictly prohibited. Focus on addressing the argument, rather than personally attacking the person making it. We will not tolerate misinformation, untruths, racist remarks, or extremist nationalistic ideologies that insult the participants. We understand that there is a fine balance between free speech and moderation, but as this is a private discussion group, we believe it is crucial to prevent harmful rhetoric.

Secondly, please refrain from discussing personal backgrounds, education, or other personal details. We will only know each other by our first names. This ensures that the discussion and debate maintain a level playing field, as we all have different backgrounds and can learn from one another.

Thirdly, the selection of discussion topics will be determined either by myself as the moderator or by the group through a majority vote on the day of the discussion.

Lastly, it is strictly prohibited to record any part of our sessions in any way. Please note that you should not record our sessions under any circumstances. There is no requirement for cameras to be turned on during our discussions.

I am excited to meet with all of you and engage in meaningful conversations.

Ali