Peace and Love?

I’ve been told by a variety of people that I should embrace peace and love, and that I should give the president-elect a chance to prove himself.

I’ve just sat through eight years of the vilification of the first black president of the United States. He was never given a fair chance by most of the right wing. He and his family were subject to racist comments and lies for all eight years.

I’ve also sat through about a year of the campaign of the president-elect. His campaign was typified by racism, sexism, xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia. His supporters have committed hate crimes, which he has effectively condoned. They have been both emboldened and empowered by his hateful rhetoric and by his victory. The haters are already acting out based on his win.

I do not hold hatred, nor act out of hatred, nor do I condone or abet violence of any sort. Still it takes more than simply embracing peace and love. Martin Luther King, Jr. was non-violent, yet he still led marches, protests, and boycotts. He spoke clearly and forcefully against segregation and racism. He acted out of a vision of something better, but did not simply turn the other cheek.

Mahatma Gandhi was non-violent, yet he forcefully opposed British rule over India with marches, protests, non-cooperation, and clearly speaking out against British rule and its abuses.

Embracing non-violence does not require one to cooperate with one’s oppression. It does not mandate one’s silence in the face of that oppression. It does not mean one should not peacefully protest the ills of society.

I am free to express my dismay of the president-elect and what he has clearly stood for. I am free to protest, march, or blog to demonstrate my concerns and objections to his programs. And I have no intention of giving up the fight.