Post by iroseiroared2 on Sept 4, 2004 6:06:20 GMT -5
Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.
With these glowing words Albert Einstein eulogized one of the most remarkable men of the twentieth century, Mohandas K. Gandhi. Not only did Gandhi almost single-handedly free India and its five hundred million people from their long subjection to the British Empire, but he did so without raising an army, without firing a gun or taking a hostage, and without ever holding a political office. How could one slight, soft-spoken man accomplish such an incredible feat? The answer must wait upon an examintion of the Idealist character.
Like George Washington one hundred and fifty years before him, Gandhi knew he could never defeat British colonial power in armed confrontation, but, at the same time, he had no interest in waging a Washington-style logistical war. It was not in Gandhi's nature to undertake military operations in any form. Gandhi's interests were in ethical matters and his talents in diplomacy, so he instinctively sought to oppose the British colonial government on humane, moral, even spiritual grounds. Gandhi believed that an entrenched political and economic system could only be overthrown by acting in accord with noble piciple. And so, over a period of yeras he developed a highly principled course of action, a form of non-violent passive resitance which he called "satyagraha." Armed only in this manner, Gandhi courageously stood his ground even in the face of frequent incarcerations and sometimes brutal assaults, finally bringing the British to their knees through an exercise of moral authority that jouranlist William Shirer referred to as "soul force."
Gandhi's objective was political freedom for India, and yet, for all social activism, he never lost sight of a higher goal for himself and his people. He was an Idealist, and it was his idealism that led him to seek truth and justice, human dignity and integrity, and true knowledge of God.
I got this from the beginning of the Idealism chapter in the book Please Understand Me II. It's about 16 different personality types you can have.. I am an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving), or Healer.
Anyway, it said that my type made up only 1% of the population. I am happy with the person I am (besides when my low self-esteem kicks in), but sometimes being the minority feels bad. Because it's like not only does it seem that the rest of society in general is different, but then you have a president, this person who is controlling the country, the same way. It feels like he's holding you down with his foot and you can't even begin to get up on your feet again, let alone take a stand and try to shape the world the way you would like it. I'm not just talking about George Bush.. ya know, maybe it's good I don't get into politics because if I did I would want everything so differently it would almost be impossible. I guess I just have these dreamworld fantasies of how I'd like things, and it seems like a lot of things I say aren't even realistic. But really.. I mean.. if Gandhi can do something like this, why can't we have someone else out there now when we need them? Why does the majority have to rule right now?? I mean no matter who it is, NO ONE wants to see other people getting killed and no one enjoys war. I understand you might say someone would because they were pissed off and felt people deserved but I mean just the idea of war in general.. I don't think anybody would really say it's an ideal thing in the world, do you? I hope I am making some kind of sense and don't sound like I have no brain and I'm talking out of my ass.. maybe I am, it's 7:01 am and I haven't gone to bed yet. Well, goodnight. Comments, inquiries, applauds, threats (not too harmful), etc. appreciated.
With these glowing words Albert Einstein eulogized one of the most remarkable men of the twentieth century, Mohandas K. Gandhi. Not only did Gandhi almost single-handedly free India and its five hundred million people from their long subjection to the British Empire, but he did so without raising an army, without firing a gun or taking a hostage, and without ever holding a political office. How could one slight, soft-spoken man accomplish such an incredible feat? The answer must wait upon an examintion of the Idealist character.
Like George Washington one hundred and fifty years before him, Gandhi knew he could never defeat British colonial power in armed confrontation, but, at the same time, he had no interest in waging a Washington-style logistical war. It was not in Gandhi's nature to undertake military operations in any form. Gandhi's interests were in ethical matters and his talents in diplomacy, so he instinctively sought to oppose the British colonial government on humane, moral, even spiritual grounds. Gandhi believed that an entrenched political and economic system could only be overthrown by acting in accord with noble piciple. And so, over a period of yeras he developed a highly principled course of action, a form of non-violent passive resitance which he called "satyagraha." Armed only in this manner, Gandhi courageously stood his ground even in the face of frequent incarcerations and sometimes brutal assaults, finally bringing the British to their knees through an exercise of moral authority that jouranlist William Shirer referred to as "soul force."
Gandhi's objective was political freedom for India, and yet, for all social activism, he never lost sight of a higher goal for himself and his people. He was an Idealist, and it was his idealism that led him to seek truth and justice, human dignity and integrity, and true knowledge of God.
I got this from the beginning of the Idealism chapter in the book Please Understand Me II. It's about 16 different personality types you can have.. I am an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving), or Healer.
Anyway, it said that my type made up only 1% of the population. I am happy with the person I am (besides when my low self-esteem kicks in), but sometimes being the minority feels bad. Because it's like not only does it seem that the rest of society in general is different, but then you have a president, this person who is controlling the country, the same way. It feels like he's holding you down with his foot and you can't even begin to get up on your feet again, let alone take a stand and try to shape the world the way you would like it. I'm not just talking about George Bush.. ya know, maybe it's good I don't get into politics because if I did I would want everything so differently it would almost be impossible. I guess I just have these dreamworld fantasies of how I'd like things, and it seems like a lot of things I say aren't even realistic. But really.. I mean.. if Gandhi can do something like this, why can't we have someone else out there now when we need them? Why does the majority have to rule right now?? I mean no matter who it is, NO ONE wants to see other people getting killed and no one enjoys war. I understand you might say someone would because they were pissed off and felt people deserved but I mean just the idea of war in general.. I don't think anybody would really say it's an ideal thing in the world, do you? I hope I am making some kind of sense and don't sound like I have no brain and I'm talking out of my ass.. maybe I am, it's 7:01 am and I haven't gone to bed yet. Well, goodnight. Comments, inquiries, applauds, threats (not too harmful), etc. appreciated.
