Gandhi and MLK

It was very interesting to know that MLK studied Gandhi pretty extensively and based a lot of his non-violent ideas off him. At one point he says, “Mohandas Gandhi had ‘brought the British Empire to its knees’, adding, “Let’s now use this method in the United States’” (pg. 51). I feel like MLK used many idea from Gandhi such as loving your enemies (the title of this chapter) and using this weapon of love. We again see the enemies of a non-violent party using love and turning the enemies view upon themselves. By resisting non-violently, the whites at first respond violently and use intimidation tactics, but eventually they abandon these because they don’t get the results they want. Which brings me to something else that underlies the non-violent resistances in general. Non- violence, active pacifism, and this weapon of love, are never used to gain power, land, or bragging rights. It seems that this tool can only bring about what is just because it’s methods generate a mutual agreement between the oppressor and the oppressed. Gandhi’s ideas of knowledge and love I feel make sure that non-violent action can’t be used to gain something that isn’t a just cause. MLK also states, “For what we are doing is right. What we are doing is just. And God is with us” (pg. 47)