The philosophy of nonviolence may be exploited to prevent reform

A strict adherence to the method of nonviolent peaceful protest often becomes a way of delaying or defusing a badly needed Revolution. Those who approve of, or willingly allow, the State’s use of violence and threats of violence, but disallow private citizens the right to do likewise, have surrendered their freedom to the State, and they are fools to imagine that the State will return any of their freedoms without a struggle, because the leaders of the State understand that violence is power, even if the naive citizen does not.

It is both illogical and immoral to regard yourself, or to present yourself, as a proponent of nonviolence while simultaneously supporting or approving the use of violence by the State, at home or abroad. If you condone in any way the use of force or the threat of force by the police, the military, or other agents of the government, you are by definition NOT an advocate of nonviolence.

Advocates of strictly nonviolent protest who make little effort or take no personal risks to change the corrupt system, while dutifully paying their taxes, obeying the law, and otherwise serving our corrupt and violent US government, are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution and the writings of Thomas Jefferson and others of the USA’s ‘founding fathers’ unequivocally state that US citizens should always be armed and ready to overthrow their government if it ever becomes corrupt or tyrannical.

The Second Amendment (ratified on Dec. 15, 1791) to the US Constitution reads:

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” -- Thomas Jefferson: Rights of British America, 1774.

“The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed.” -- Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776.

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience [has] shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and surpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” – Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence, 1776.

“We surely cannot deny to any nation that right whereon our own government is founded, that every one may govern itself according to whatever form it pleases and change these forms at its own will... The will of the nation is the only thing essential to be regarded.” --Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 1792.

“As revolutionary instruments (when nothing but revolution will cure the evils of the State) [secret societies] are necessary and indispensable, and the right to use them is inalienable by the people.” -- Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1803.

“When patience has begotten false estimates of its motives, when wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality.” -- Thomas Jefferson to M. deStael, 1807.

“If ever there was a holy war, it was that which saved our liberties and gave us independence.” -- Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1813.

“A single good government becomes... a blessing to the whole earth, its welcome to the oppressed restraining within certain limits the measure of their oppressions. But should even this be counteracted by violence on the right of expatriation, the other branch of our example then presents itself for imitation: to rise on their rulers and do as we have done.” -- Thomas Jefferson to George Flower, 1817.

“To attain all this (universal republicanism), however, rivers of blood must yet flow, and years of desolation pass over; yet the object is worth rivers of blood, and years of desolation.” -- Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1823.

“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” -- Thomas Jefferson: his motto.

Gregory F. Fegel