1.Suffering and oppression are not enough to create a movement. A movement begins when the oppressed begin seeing themselves not just as victims, but as new men and women, pioneers in creating new, more human relations, thus advancing the evolution of the human race.
2.Movement builders are able to recognize the humanity in others, including their opponents, and therefore the potential within them for redemption and the possibility of work-through-change.
3.Movement builders are conscious of the need to go beyond slogans and to create programs of struggle that transform and empower participants.
4. At the heart of movement building is the concept of two-sided transformation, both of ourselves and of our institutions.
5. Thinking dialectically is pivotal to movement building because it prepares us for the contradictions that inevitably develop in the course of the struggle. A struggle that starts with the need of a particular racial, ethnic, or social group only becomes a movement if it creates hope and the vision of a new society for everyone. But because great hopes can also lead to great disappointments, movement participants must be in touch with elements that sustain them through dark times as well as bright.
6. Movement building is intergenerational and involves children and youth, as well as adults, in community building and productive activities.
7. Movement building is essentially counter-cultural. It is a struggle to transform both ourselves (the way we think and act in relationship to one another and the Earth) and institutions. Radical organizing, by contrast, is mostly about distributive justice, making demands on the system in order to redistribute the products of the society (wages, healthcare, education, etc.) more equitably. Genuine movement building is about restorative justice, new ways of thinking and being that restore community and advance us another step in our evolution as human beings.
HOW YOU CAN KNOW BETTER
Personal
Day 1, Courage
The word "courage" comes from the French word for heart. Courage is the ability to do what is in your heart. Do you have the courage to be nonviolent?
Day 2, Smiling
Smiling is the most basic kind of peace work. Your smile helps the world be peaceful. Today, smile to at least three people.
Day 3, Appreciation
Peace in the world begins inside each person. Appreciating who you are inside helps heal our planet. Write down ten things that you appreciate about yourself. Read aloud what you have written.Day 4, Caring
Nonviolence toward the self is caring for oneself. Real caring is not just what we say, but what we do. Make a list of at least five ways that you can take better care of yourself. Practice at least one today.
Day 5, Believing
Our beliefs shape our lives. Today, believe you can be peaceful ALL DAY. Say to yourself, "I can be peaceful today." Write what you believe about peace.
Day 6, Simplicity
When we have a lot of stuff in our lives, a lot of video games, a lot of T.V., a lot of toys all over the house, it’s hard to be peaceful. Close your eyes, and ask yourself, "How can I make my life simpler so I can be more peaceful and nonviolent?" Now write down two ways you are going to make your life simpler.
Day 7, Education
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." The complete education teaches how to live by the principles which benefit us and the people around us. Today, find a book or go to a website and read what Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. said about living a peaceful life.
Day 8, Healing
Maya Angelou is an African-American woman who turned a traumatic, violent childhood experience into a reason to be creative and bring peace to the world. Now she is a writer, poet, activist, and professor. Today, write down something painful and violent that happened to you or someone you know. Now write down 2 ways you can use this painful memory to become a more creative and peaceful person.
Day 9, Dreaming
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a great dream. What is your own dream for peace? Write it down.
Day 10, Faith
When Caesar Chavez was organizing farm workers, he taught them to say, "Si, se puede," "Yes, it is possible," when they didn’t know how they would overcome an obstacle. Today let’s say, "Yes, it is possible," to every obstacle we meet. Now, write down three things that are hard for you. After each one, write "It is possible for me to overcome this obstacle and be successful."
SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the purpose of what you are doing?
To Educate the public in the philosophy and practice of NONVIOLENCE.
To Give people practical and effective tools to apply NONVIOLENCE daily.
To Identify communities, organizations and individuals who are making NONVIOLENT choices to alter and impact personal, public and social challenges.
To Empower and support communities, cities and the nation in seeing NONVIOLENCE as a powerful alternative for creating respect, justice, equity and understanding among all people.
