Week 2 /Discussion Question 2 - Personal Statement Example

Week 2 /Discussion Question 2 During the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, the methods used by the pacifists clashed with the more radical elements. The resources that the U.S. dedicated to resisting communism and fascism did not bring adequate human well being. The efforts did not realize that the violence problem was fundamental. By deciding to use violence to oppose these ideologies, the U.S. itself agreed to self destruction. Both the pacifists’ methods and those of the more radical elements immensely contributed to change that was realized by the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

The movement did not put more emphasis on violence as a social problem but challenged the negative effects it caused on people. The nonviolence civil rights movements that changed the U.S. during the 1960’s received a major force from World War II. The World War II brought to the surface the horrible contradictions of the American Society such as racial discrimination and slavery. Several African-American soldiers realized the bitter truth that their sacrifices will not be honored. These experiences forced the African-American veterans to decide to work for changes.

In the 1960’s, several players in the development of the movement emerged. For instance, Martin Luther King became the leader of the civil rights movement. Under his leadership, the activists organized nonviolent demonstrations in most parts of the United States. He provided a public enunciation of the practical and philosophical bases for peaceful demonstrations. The methods employed by the pacifists were simple. They held the view that, violence was not the only answer to their problems.

They could match into their enemies’ territories to attract attention. They also used civil disobedience to indicate that all people were equal including the blacks. Martin Luther King also delivered several speeches with a lot of emotion sending a message to the country that all human beings deserved fair treatment irrespective of their color. The more radical elements also played a crucial role in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. They used violent tactics to send their messages across the country.

Their achievements remain of great importance. The achievements are a direct outworking of the peaceful activism together with an enormously dedicated and creative generation of activists.