NVDA vs NVR vs CD

In a prior post, I used the term "NVDA".

I didn't realize that people here might be new to these

concepts, so I thought I'd explain it.

(Someone did ask me about this... this was my response)

What is Nonviolent Direct Action (NVDA)?

There are several types of NVDA.

Voting might be considered NVDA.

But usually we are either talking about

* Civil Disobedience (CD) or

* Nonviolent Resistance (NVR).

People often call NVR "Civil Disobedience" but that is technically incorrect.

(even people who teach these techniques!)

Civil Disobedience is "intentionally breaking a bad law".

Examples:

* Women voting defying a bad law

* Black sit-ins in the 1960's defying bad law

* Weed-fests where people gather and smoke pot openly defying a bad law

When people nonviolently block an industrial facility with their bodies,

they are usually charged with either Trespassing (if on private property()

or else Disorderly Conduct (if on public rights-of-way).

In either case, the point of NVR is not to violate

laws against trespass, because trespass is a bad law,

(which would be the case for Civil Disobedience)...

Instead, the point of Nonviolent Resistance is to

stop some harm from happening (like polluting the air

or groundwater), where the charge (trespass, disorderly

conduct) is incidental to the action. 

With Civil Disobedience, the charge is the main point

of the action.

One of the principle philosophers who developed this

approach was arguably Jesus, who defied the money changers

at the Temple.

In more modern times, it is certainly Henry David Thoreau,

who wrote the pamphlet "Civil Disobedience" in prison for

defying a tax law.

Probably the most famous adherents was Mohandas K. Gandhi,

who was influenced by Thoreau, and who coined the term,

Satyagraha, a Sanskrit word which means (roughly) "Truth Force".

Gandhi really contributed a lot to the philosophy of nonviolent direct

action, what it is, and HOW IT WORKS. (it alters the mind of the oppressor).

Of course MLK patterned himself after Gandhi and Thoreau.

In modern times we have people like Sandra Steingraber who

was a huge part of defining the modus opperandi of We Are Seneca

Lake, but there were others like Michael Dineen, Jan Quarles, Doug Couchon.

N.B., I have studied this stuff for many years, but I must thank Elliot Adams

of Veterans for Peace who helped me understand the subtle difference

between NVR and CD.

Hope this helps someone!

BH

--
William Huston:  WilliamAHuston@gmail.com
Binghamton NY

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