Greatest Purveyor of Violence in the World

Terrorists like to use anniversaries for actions, to help make their point.  On April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King gave a speech at Riverside Church in New York City.

The speech was about the USA government in general and the American War in Vietnam specifically.  to with:

Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today -- my own government.

On April 4, 1968, a sniper murdered Dr. King, exactly one year to the day of his famous speech.

Since the Hegemon controls the press in USA, the story is a lone nut murdered Dr. King.  Never mind in an open court of law it was found that a conspiracy murdered Dr. King, police working with elements of the United States Army.  (Simply search "army" to get to the relevant passages.)

Nonviolence has a specific application, when doing civil disobedience.  And within Christianity, civil disobedience is taking your licks opposing an unjust government, but a government scripture says you must obey:

God told Daniel he put the basest people in power to make clear God was in charge, no one else.  Jesus said render unto Caesar, obey the Pharisees, but do not be like them.  When confronted with taxes, Jesus performed a miracle. Paul reiterated all this in Romans 13.

So... to oppose the Hegemon is to sign up for a beating, prison or death.  The Hegemon thrives on violence, so armed insurrection is welcomed by it, in fact they work hard to provoke it, sending in agentes provocateur.  Jesus, Paul, Peter ad nauseum all died opposing the Hegemons they told us to obey.  Their response to violence was nonviolence.  This is the role of nonviolence: opposing the Hegemon.

We are made for salvation, when and where we die, and die we will, is up to God.  No one can elect to be a martyr, that is not allowed, but martyrdom awaits those who oppose the Hegemon, if they are effective.  The Christian promise is a banquet on the other side.

Now, there is the garden variety thug who is to be opposed, and with them, when faced with their aggression, it is game on.  Aikido is a martial art, and one designed to de-escalate and neutralize a threat.  Pain, but no harm.

Sometimes, conscientious objection is civil disobedience, but not right here and now.

The bible says God destroyed the world in the flood for its violence.  The United States is

the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today -- my own government.

Who knows how this will work out, but under no circumstances can the Hegemon be opposed violently, it only strengthens it.  It might kill you, but that just ends it faster if you do not resist.  Nonviolence is an existential threat to the Hegemon.  You can hope for a miracle, but count on a banquet.

Nonviolence to the Hegemon, and aikido for the thugs.

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