General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: My property is never worth more than a person's life. [View all]Bunnahabhain
(857 posts)Gandhi did not come from the womb in the fullness of his wisdom; like most of us he evolved and changes opinions through his life. You accusing me of a lack of nuance in understanding is a little amusing. Gandhi was a British loyalist as a younger man. The full quote came from a WWI pamphlet where he was urging his fellow Indians to fight with the British, and by this act, hopefully convincing Britain to grant citizenship in the Empire. The full quote is:
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. If we want the Arms Act to be repealed, if we want to learn the use of arms, here is a golden opportunity. If the middle classes render voluntary help to Government in the hour of its trial, distrust will disappear, and the ban on possessing arms will be withdrawn."
As we know he later moved to the position of seperatism.
As to violence...the shades of grey are many. He sort of gave an abeyance in certain circumstances deeming violent self defense superior to cowardice. The cowardice was in not being strong enough to nonviolently face violence against one's self and others.