Those who make peaceful revolution impossible only make violent revolution inevitable

[obstinate_lib]

Considering all the controversy over Obama's association with supposed American sixties terrorist Bill Ayers, I decided to learn a little more about the Weather Underground myself, since my years as a political observer have taught me what's known as the prevailing wisdom is usually wrong. What I've learned so far is that Ayers and people like him

Comments

[warrioreowyn]

While you may be correct in disputing that Weather Underground were terrorists, I cannot agree with your conclusions. There are two situations that may lead people to commit political violence:
1.) They feel very strongly about an issue, but cannot muster the necessary political support or degree of political action to bring about change on it, or
2.) They are unable to engage in peaceful methods of protest because of extreme levels of repression (an example would be the ANC in South Africa).

The second reason is an arguably justifiable one; the first is not. And as the US responses to Vietnam protesters, while often harsh, was not remotely comparable to large-scale violence against protesters seen in many dictatorial and repressive regimes; and as the United States remained a democracy during the Vietnam War, I would put Ayers' actions in the first category. They were not actually "powerless to stop" the US's actions in Vietnam, as the protests and widespread public opposition to the war helped to end it; and their use of bombings did nothing of any substance to help that goal.

As long as there are any remaining avenues for non-violent protest, the use of violence is unacceptable - just as it is unacceptable for nations to go to war while there are remaining avenues to pursue peace.