http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/07/16/zimbabwe.html
Morgan Tsvangirai may have good intentions, yet non-violence can produce nothing, especially in a tyranny as bad as Zimbabwe’s. He refuses to accept the fact that non-violence and doing nothing to destroy a tyrannical government, of not defending one’s self and others could lead to the inevitable death of a nation, left weakened, broke, divided and unable to come under people’s rule. The devil has gotten the best of Mugabe and has turned it on his own people. Anyone notice that in military and police parades of Zimbabwe they carry pictures of the man? Never has anyone in the history of now did we experience an “elected” dictator establish a cult of personality.
Admittingly, Tsvangerai is noble and selfless in his cause to a democratic Zimbabwe no doubt. Morgan Tsvangirai’s courage may be found in real leadership, where the more militant stay to raise arms and battle the government for liberty, equality and democracy while non-violent people flee the nation until the nation is placed in the people’s hands for real. A second war of independence is necessary to destroy Mugabe, his supporters, his government and put the nation back in the hands of its rightful owners—the people themselves. In times like these, Morgan Tsvangirai must risk losing some supporters to take up arms because non-violence has failed, the international community has done little to nothing effective, and Mugabe is still in power. It is the price of a non-cooperative government should it fail to obey its people, should it fail its people, should it oppress, silence and brainwash the governed. Had Canada joined the revolution in the United States, we would’ve been a free French republic founded on the principals of popular rule of the state through representative government of the people, by the people and for the people in liberty, equality, unity and the rule of law.
The people of Zimbabwe have no other choice other than to make use of the machete or gun of their enemy or their own against the government of their nation should it bear the symptoms of a tyranny. Tsvangirai must accept this as a last resort and final solution to cure a nation the disease of tyranny.
“Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
—United States Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
I disagree. Non violence has proven to be effective when it comes to making lasting changes. I give you the example of India shaking off the most powerful nation in the world at the time, England.
Through non violent protests and civil disobediance the Indians were able to convince the English to withdraw in the face of international pressure.
Also the Civil Rights movement in the United States lead by the Martin Luther King Jr. and others was also dedicated to non violence.
Resorting to violence to solve problems always leads to more problems than they solve.
Mugabe has resorted to violence in innocent people of his own country. The Zimbabwean people should prove your last part of the comment on Mugabe.
It all depends on the situation and non-violence doesn’t always work. Zimbabwe is a perfect example. Mugabe forced Tsvangarai out of the presidential runoff through violence. Supporters of the opposition were forced to vote and forced to vote for Mugabe under the threat of violence.
The Americans and the French overthrew their oppressors when conditions became too unbearable.
Gandhi and Martin Luther King made miracles with their work and were martyred for it. But there are times and places and situations when the sword must be met with the sword, when a government refuses to listen to its people, when there are no checks and balances in the system.