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| Nelson Mandela |
Today we almost take for granted the recording of violence. An unarmed young man repeatedly shot by police on a Toronto streetcar, a defenseless black man beaten in Los Angeles, and a young man standing up to a tank in Tiananmen Square are but a few examples we've seen. The fact that we see these images at all is the miracle of modern communications and it has led to a decrease in the number and severity of incidents of violence.
Don't take my word on it. The well-respected international journalist, Gwynne Dyer, does research on the incidence of war and violence. Here is what he has to say on the subject in an article, The Peaceful World.
The other point Dyer makes is that we are riveted by violence. It is the convergence of these two factors, global personal communications coupled with our fascination for violence that has ironically led to its decrease. This sounds ironic, doesn't it? Gandhi, King and Mandela understood this and it allowed them to see that at times, the camera could become a substitute for the gun. Yes, they all espoused non-violence at times, some times more than others, to promote change but it was the advent of mass communications that allowed non-violent tactics to work.Almost 90 million people died in the world wars and other big wars (including the Russian, Chinese and Spanish civil wars) of the first half of the 20th century, out of a world population that was one-third of what it is now. In the second half of the century the death toll dropped steeply to 25 million or so, most of who died in colonial independence wars and civil wars. And so far, in the 21st century, the total is less than one million people killed in war.
In April 1919, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in Amritsar, India. Unlike previously unreported British atrocities, the details of this massacre were revealed when Mahatma Gandhi held a public inquiry into the massacre and the results of his inquiry were reported internationally. As a result, many British politicians echoed the words of Winston Churchill when he characterized the massacre as "monstrous". Brigadier-General Reginald E.H. Dyer who had been the commander at Amritsar went from celebrated hero to a villain almost overnight. The political fallout from this massacre continues to this day and just last February, Reuters reported David Cameron as being the first serving British prime minister to voice regret for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
As telegraph dispatches became television reporting, Martin Luther King, Jr. saw the opportunity of this new medium. Dr. King's I have a Dream speech was heard by hundreds of thousands in person on August 28, 1963 during the historic March on Washington. But in fact, the advent of television allowed Dr. King to speak directly to millions and his speech has been watched by over 8 million viewers on YouTube.
The Anti-Apartheid Movement was one of Nelson Mandela's and the African National Congress' greatest achievements. The Movement used the power of mass media to mobilize opponents of Apartheid throughout the world. By 1980, almost all Canadian youth had heard about the unjust incarceration of Nelson Mandela, the Sharpeville massacre, and the Soweto Uprising. By then, many Anti-Apartheid South African refugees lived in Canada and thousands of Canadian youth were part of the Movement.
Throughout the '80s, the youth of the world mobilized against Apartheid. We held weekly rallies. We withdrew our money from Canadian banks with ties to South Africa. We boycotted South African goods. Canadian churches, pension fund representatives and stockholders generally went to stakeholders meetings demanding divestment from South Africa.
It sure is interesting to watch the rewriting of history. By the time Brian Mulroney pushed the Commonwealth for sanctions against South Africa in 1985, he did so with a South Africa that was already in economic trouble as a result of the effort of thousands of Canadians and millions throughout the world who had supported the boycott for years. Yes, Brian Mulroney acted ahead of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan but he only did so on the groundswell of an Anti-Apartheid Movement here in Canada. Take it from one who was there ... and from Gerry Caplan. Here's a piece you may enjoy by Musa Okwonga, Mandela will never, ever be your minstrel.
What is the legacy of the three great leaders of the twentieth century? A compassionate heart is important but Nelson Mandela himself always said that education was vital. It was the coupling of those great hearts and minds that gave these men the courage to move forward even during their darkest days. It was this strength that allowed Nelson Mandela to survive 27 years of incarceration unbroken. And it was their brilliance in understanding the possibilities of a new technology that allowed their non-violent tactics to succeed.
We teach reading and writing in our schools and the kids themselves have learnt about cell phone video but ultimately these are the means to an end. Nature is beautiful but concepts of justice, fairness, freedom and equality were created by humanity. They are what fire our passion and give us hope. To paraphrase Mandela, these are the ideals we live for but are also prepared to die for.
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| Gandhi Memorial, New Delhi |
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions only.
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