Speaker says violence is a spiral

The life of Mahatma Gandhi was not fragmented by prejudice, consumerism, and an obsession with making money. Instead, his life was full of spirituality and values such as compassion, truth, and self-discipline. And his message is as relevant today as ever, according to his granddaughter.

Ela Gandhi gave a keynote address, “The Crises of the 21st Century – Some Gandhian Solutions,” at the Student Union Oct. 4 to mark the start of Asian American Heritage Observance month.

During her talk, she identified and reflected on 10 issues she feels are the most significant problems in the world today. They include the dehumanization of people, the power of the media, and warfare.

“Life now revolves around how to make as much money as we can, instead of helping as many people as we can,” she said.

“The focus of education has shifted from a value-based education about the body, mind, and soul to an approach for the world of the work technocrat.”

Ela Gandhi emphasized the importance and power of nonviolence, noting that it requires greater courage than the use of violence.

“Gandhi gave us the weapon of balance,” she said. “Nonviolent action is based on love, and on violence inflicted upon self rather than on one’s opponent.”

Violence is a spiral, she said. It is usually third parties that go to the front line who are taught to hate, to kill, and to take orders as “patriotic citizens.”

“If they come back alive, they come back with psychological trauma and bitterness,” she said. “Hate and violence continue to grow, and people have to constantly watch their backs.

“Nonviolence provides lasting solutions,” Ela Gandhi said. “If you tackle the same issues on a nonviolent basis, you stop the violence.”