From: [cac 2] at [gte.com] (Crankin' Carl)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Re: Ghandi quote needed
Date: Tue, 09 May 1995 11:16:28 -0200

Consider these remarks by Ghandi:

   I do believe that where there is a choice only between
   cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. Thus 
   when my eldest son asked me what he should have done 
   had he been present when I was almost fatally as-
   saulted in 1908 [by an Indian extremist opposed to
   Gandhi's agreement with Smuts], whether he should have
   run away and seen me killed or whether he should have used
   his physical force which he could and wanted to
   use, and defend me, I told him it was his duty to defend
   me even by using violence. Hence it was that I took part
   in the Boer War, the so-called Zulu Rebellion and [World
   War I]. Hence also do I advocate training in arms for
   those who believe in the method of violence. I would
   rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her
   honor than that she should in a cowardly manner be-
   come or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor.
   
   But I believe non-violence is infinitely superior to
   violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment.
   ...But... forgiveness only when there is the power
   to punish... A mouse hardly forgives a cat when it
   allows itself to be torn to pieces by her. I therefore
   appreciate the sentiment of those who cry out for the
   condign punishment of General Dyer (responsible for
   massacre at Jallianwala Bagh April 13,1919) and his ilk.
   They would tear him to pieces if they could. But I do not
   believe India to be a helpless creature. Only, I want to
   use India's and my strength for a better purpose.
   
   ...Strength does not come from physical capacity.
   It comes from an indomitable will.... We in India
   may in a moment realize that one hundred thousand
   Englishmen need not frighten three hundred million
   human beings. A definite forgiveness would, therefore,
   mean a definite recognition of our strength.... It
   matters little to me that for the moment I do no drive my
   point home. We feel too downtrodden not to be angry
   and revengeful. But I must not refrain from saying that
   India can gain more by waiving the right of punishment.
   We have better work to do, a better mission to deliver
   to the world.

Mohandas K. Gandhi,Young India, August 11, 1920
from Fischer, Louis ed.,The Essential Gandhi, 1962.
pp. 156-57.

-- 
                       ( ( (      
                        ) ) )     "... There is no evil in the atom,
                        ( ( (            only in men's souls."
Carl Castrogiovanni    '. ___ .'                   Adlai Stevenson
                      '  (> <) '             
----------------------ooO-(_)-Ooo-----------------------------------------