What’s a Pacifist?
I am certainly not one. I do believe in the use of protective force although that is what we call a “slippery slope” and brings us into the realm of “just war theory”. But what is pacifism? I will try and do the topic justice but it is a complex one with many levels. One has to really practice or witness it to fully understand it. Briefly, it is defined as the belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that conflicts can be settled in a peaceful way. Pacifism is commonly based on religious faith, the belief that all life is sacred, and that war is a method of attempting to resolve conflicts that is ineffectual; costly economically, and a waste of human life.
An absolute pacifist believes that it is never right to take part in war, even in self-defense. No circumstances justify killing another person. They believe that violence will always have a negative outcome as compared to non-violence. So under no conditions is violence acceptable. I believe the Quakers are examples of this approach. One of the issues that arises when one adopts such a position is the word pacifism becomes associated with weakness, cowardice, and at times lack of patriotism. The question of “why won’t you defend your country?” often arises. The answer is pacifism does not mean passivity and the Quakers are very active in trying to resolve disputes through many avenues. Take a look at: https://www.fcnl.org/ which is the Friends Committee on National Legislation and you will find a very active organization that is not only dedicated to the use of nonviolence to resolve conflicts but is also addressing the structural violence in the world around us. Supporting human rights is a major part of their agenda. They are hardly a passive organization. Their mission is grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
A conditional pacifist may oppose war and violence but believe there are times when it is necessary. An example would be if your country was invaded. This could also include protecting your family from violence. The question that arises for many is do we have a duty or a moral obligation to protect others if we can? The tragedy of the Rwandan genocide likely could have been mitigated significantly if the United Nations had authorized sending troops in to stop the slaughter or better yet to intervene before it began. They did not and close to one million people were killed within 90 days. I certainly would have supported armed intervention in this case. But what really lead up to it was political and economic discord, fueled by racial hatred inspired by the former colonial powers that occupied the area, that created the conditions that led to the genocide. For some insights into the genocide read “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families”, by Philip Gourevitch.
The sovereignty of nations also poses a major challenge. Albert Einstein suggested we needed a world government, and a peacekeeping force, to settle disputes between groups. The problem is not everyone wants to join. The countries with more economic and military might will just do what they usually do, resist decisions that are not in their favor. As an example look at the United Nations Permanent Security Council composed of China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, all of which have veto power. It is an exercise in inequality, and a form of structural violence. As long as such inequality exists the “usual suspects”, who are skilled at using various types of violence, will bully others. We just can’t seem to get a handle on the concept of interdependence. We do not understand that human rights apply to all of us, not just a select few.
If you would like to go a bit further in developing an understanding of what pacifism is here are a few people you can take a look at: Jesus Christ, Buddha, Martin Luther King Jr., Thich Nhat Hanh, Jeannette Rankin, Jane Addams, Chan Khong, Helen Keller, Leo Tolstoy, A.J. Muste and the list goes on. So start reading and become familiar with their perspectives and their actions that have contributed to a more just and peaceful world. And remember pacifism is not passive. It is an active approach that demands intelligence, commitment, skill, compassion, and above all else courage.