I'm beginning to think there is such a thing as a "Gandhi Complex."
The 'Gandhi Complex" applies to those using Gandhi's words and deeds in NON-VIOLENT civil disobedience to justify their own acts of "civil disobedience" even when what they espouse is COMPLETELY against almost everything that Gandhi said and believed.
We saw it when the Tea baggers partiers, in their tricorn hats with tea bags hanging from them. We dissected their platform(didn't take long) message (took even less time), who was bankrolling them (Hey Dick! How ya doing Koch Brothers? ' heard you don't like the spot light. . . ) and laughed.
They didn't like that we were taking them seriously and sought to soothe and console themselves with this quote:
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
They just ignored everything that he was fighting and leading the Indian people against (racism, colonialism, etc.) that gave those words their power.
Now the head of the "What The Fuck Could Possibly Go Wrong Marching On Washington D.C. With Loaded Weapons" event (also known as the Open Carry March on Washington) Iraq veteran and internet radio host, Adam Kokesh, has compared himself to Gandhi.
Kokesh hopes to lead at minimum 1,000 people (there are 4,000 yeses on the event site with another 4,000 maybes) with loaded guns slug across their back on a July 4 (yes July 4) march to the US Capitol to show that:
We will march with rifles loaded & slung across our backs to put the government on notice that we will not be intimidated & cower in submission to tyranny. We are marching to mark the high water mark of government & to turn the tide.
- event facebook page
You got that? Occupy did it with out weapons, but these guys need their guns, that they've been hording because Obama.
Um, your ability to heavily arm yourself and publicly call Obama a gun-grabbing tyrant pretty much proves he’s not.
- John Fugelsang
Honestly I read their event stuff and all I see is "blah, blah, blah, scary black man in white house."
Never mind that open carry is illegal in Washington D.C., and they are inviting arrest just on that score (which they'll then scream Obama, repression, freeedum!). Never mind that this march does not have a permit - it is STILL a "non-violent" event. Just as Kokesh lays it out
This will be a non-violent event, unless the government chooses to make it violent
- event facebook page
.
and then he reiterates it later in the page
There's a remote chance that there will be violence as there has been from government before, and I think it should be clear that if anyone involved in this event is approached respectfully by agents of the state, they will submit to arrest without resisting. We are truly saying in the SUBTLEST way possible that we would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.
Because people with loaded weapons, challenging the law, breaking the law, always get a polite and calm reception from the police.
The Washington Post became interested and emailed Kokesh a series of questions. When asked:
Suppose the D.C. police, as they have promised, block the marchers from crossing into Washington? How should they respond?
-Thinkprogess
Kokesh responded
“With Satyagraha,”
Oh. My. God. This guy thinks he's leading the Salt March!
Satyagraha, in Gandhi’s words, is “a way of life based on love and compassion.” Gandhi explained that “[i]n the application of Satyagraha I have discovered in the earliest stages that pursuit of truth did not admit of violence being inflicted on one’s opponent but that he must be weaned from error by patience and sympathy.”
-Thinkprogess
The Salt March or Salt Satyagraha, was
. . . a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider Civil Disobedience Movement.-wikipedia
Gandhiji lead a march from his home, Sabarmati Ashram, to village of Dandi (in 24 days, a distance of 240 miles) to make salt without paying the tax. Along the way he was joined by many Indians. The Dandi march ended peacefully.
After Dandi Gandhi planned on going on to Dharasana (Dharasana Satyagraha) and doing the same thing, making salt. But he was arrested by the British before the march was completed. The non-violent protesters met in Dharasana any way, but they did not fair as well as the non-violent protesters in Dandi. Hundreds were beaten buy the British.
[Sarojini] Naidu [one of the movements nonviolent leaders who lead while Gandhiji was in prison] was aware that violence against the satyagrahis[protesters] was a threat, and warned them, "You must not use any violence under any circumstances. You will be beaten, but you must not resist: you must not even raise a hand to ward off blows." On May 21, the satyagrahis tried to pull away the barbed wire protecting the salt pens. The police charged and began clubbing them.
-wikipedia
When asked about responding to government violence against those practicing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi was clear. Never raise your hand.
So scroll back up and see how this "Gandhi wannabe but I really have no effing clue" indicates that they will respond to "government violence"
This will be a non-violent event, unless the government chooses to make it violent
- event facebook page
.
Does that mean you will respond with violence if the government gets violent or will government be the only perpetrators of violence?
Kokesh seems to further clarify in the emails to the Washington Post.
Washington Post asks:
Did his response of “satyagraha” mean violence is unacceptable?
-Thinkprogess
Kokesh responds
“Only if absolutely necessary in defense of life or limb,” he wrote.
-Thinkprogess
Yup! EXACTLY like Gandhi . . . . /sarcasim
But don't worry, Kokesh is trying to work with the Washington D.C, police chief, except she's being really stubborn and unreasonable about that "open carry is illegal in Washington D.C." thing. She keeps insisting, that for public safety, and the law, that the police should be the only side with guns.
But really you guys, Kokesh is trying to be reasonable, the "this is gonna end badly Open Carry March" event site states:
All who attend this march armed will be asked to stand and move in a military formation in order to maintain unity and safety. You will be expected to be dressed professionally, and there will be an inspection. As organizer, AVTM reserves the right to reject anyone from the formation at any time for any reason.
cuz . . . yeah
Just like Gandhi