Self Determination around the World - Essay Example

Lecturer’s Self-determination around the World during the Twentieth century Introduction Oppression among communities, people of different races, sexual orientation and nationality led to an uprising that demanded to correct the issues that undermine the peaceful existence of human kind. People in the 20th Century were faced with struggles and war that led to inequality and discrimination. A group of people realized that they were being oppressed by few rich or powerful people. The masses started protesting against unjust treatment and conventional social cultures in different parts of the world. Among the masses, were few individuals who independently created an empowered identity that gave courage, pride and strength to protest or fight against the few but powerful forces of marginalization Manifesto 6). Self-determination was witnessed in all leaders in the 20th century who struggled to correct the discriminatory rules that rendered other people slaves due to race, nationality, gender and sexual orientation. Among the people who exhibited a profound aspect of self-determination in fighting for their rights include: Mohandas Gandhi, Malcolm X, Simone de Beauvoir and activists of Gay Liberation Front (Manifesto 9). This essay will analyze the significance of freedom in the 21st Century to the struggles and challenges faced by infamous leaders in the 20th Century. Historical context The Second World War was an irrelevant war that led to massive loss of lives, property, and resources. Sir Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt of the U.S signed the infamous Atlantic Charter that advocated for a better future for all people in the world and prevention of future wars that crippled nations (Ganguly and Docker 223). In this charter, the two powerful men agreed that people should not live in fear but struggle to live a meaningful life. Change is constant in the developing world, which implies that a new world order will rise against conventional and powerful administrations that oppress a large number of people. Change is only implemented after a new and better solution to an existing problem has been found and discussed in details. People in the 20th Century had to identify and further redefine themselves and their ideologies in relation to the change that they desire. Mohandas Gandhi Gandhi learned his core Indian values from his humble mother who believed in tolerance, self-purification, vegetarianism and non-injury to all living things even insects. He went to further his education in London university where he studied law and returned to India to work as a lawyer but found limited employment opportunities. Gandhi was relocated to South Africa where he worked as a lawyer. However, he was astonished by the treatment he received from British rulers and other white settlers. Gandhi was thrown out of the luxurious first class train meant for white settlers and barred from living in good hotels. He endured the atrocious treatment he got from white settlers until when he was beaten on the streets because of the color of his skin. Gandhi went back to India with a new and energized mindset to fight for the freedom of his people using non-violent ways such as civil disobedience in boycotting schools, courts and goods. He faced many challenges and victories but managed to lead India to its independence in 1947 where they regained control of self-rule and their core cultures. Gandhi wanted the British to leave India without influencing Indians with secular and materialistic Western values that were enslaving. Gandhi was assassinated by an Indian hired assassin two years after independence. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir Women in the 20th Century were treated as second-class people below men in every aspect of life. They were not allowed to vote, to seek employment or become people of power and status. Women who engaged in writing listed their identity as anonymous in the 20th Century because it was illegal to have equal rights as those of men. Simone de Beauvoir a French writer started a revolution advocating for women rights by writing articles, essays and even novels. Women did not have voting rights, they were viewed as slaves to benefit and serve the pleasures of men. Some great philosophers such as Aristotle and St. Thomas indicated in their studies that women were half-men or defects. Family values in all societies foster submission among women because they believe it is the way of life for girls and women. Simone advocated for employment opportunities for women, consent in marriage, abortion and use of contraceptives and equal rights for mothers and children. Women used non-violence protest to demand for their rights across the world and finally achieved their goals. Blacks Movement and Malcolm X in 1964 Malcolm X was officially known as Malcolm Little but later changed his name to Malcolm X because of the way Americans named their slaves with initials of the alphabet to avoid complicated African names. Malcolm X witnessed first-hand the discrimination against blacks in the U.S when their house was burnt down and his father murdered by the white extremist members of Ku Klax Klan. There were cases of segregation where blacks were not allowed to sitting front of the bus with other white passengers or attend better schools or acquire better jobs for their families. Blacks could not use public infrastructure meant for White Americans because they were considered as the primitive race world-wide. Many African Americans during the 20th Century lived below the poverty line, received low quality education and poor healthcare. Malcolm X was arrested for burglary and became a Muslim by assimilation, which led to his self-determination to lead his people in claiming civil rights (pp. 241).He wanted to improve the living standards of his fellow African Americans with an intention to eliminate drug abuse and addiction, escalating crime in black neighborhoods and advocate for welfare funding for poverty stricken families. “Manifesto” 1970 The gay community started to identify themselves as gay rather than being labeled homosexuals, queer, sick and screaming queens by other members of the society. Gay men and women suppressed their identities and hide under marriage because of ridicule, loss of jobs and hate crimes.The gay community started redefining themselves and changing people’s thought against gay rights and continue to succeed even in the contemporary society. Comparison of 20th Century Leaders’ Arguments Gandhi, Malcolm X, Simone and Gay Movements all redefined their identities to create room for change and fought for their freedom. Gandhi started a non-violent movement followed with civil disobedience in India to reject the Western culture and rule to restore their core cultures that advocated for spiritual richness. His self-determination was fueled by the loss spiritual values that Indians experienced and enslaving Western culture that made people work solely for material things. Simone de Beauvoir started writing a series of essays and articles to show men those women was equal partners in the society. Her self-determination started when women were living under the oppressive rules of men. Simone wanted to make a change in the world and help men recognize that equal rights in the society is more important than making women slaves of the table and bed. This sparked a series of protests that enabled women to vote, seek employment and better education. Malcolm X was a product of the oppressive rules imposed on blacks by Americans in the 1960s. Malcolm realized that the laws implemented to prevent blacks from acquiring good education, healthcare, and better jobs. These dire conditions motivated his self-determination to make a difference in the lives of fellow African Americans that were suffering. He protested alongside blacks and held public seminars to incite people to claim their civil rights using violence if necessary. “Manifesto” 1970 redefined gay community as normal people who function well in schools, jobs and social setting. The gay activists created a new and better understanding of their ideologies and values to influence people to change their minds about the gay community. The Gay community was determined to achieve equal status and opportunity as other members of the society by holding street protests, which were violent in nature in the beginning but later turned into peaceful gay pride parades. Contrast of the arguments made by 20th century leaders Gandhi advocated for the separation of Indians from Western cultures that corroded the minds and lives of his people. Big cities and materialistic luxuries made people the slave of money (Dalton 230). Gandhi wanted Indians to resist the influence of Western culture and instead, restore the core values of their fore fathers that focused on spiritual development and family values (Ganguly and Docker 231). On the other hand, Malcolm X resisted any effort deportation back to Africa and advocated for blacks to be integrated into the American system of education, health and economy, which improved the living standards of former slaves and their children. He held gatherings that encouraged people to rise against the American system that oppressed African Americans (Ganguly and Docker 241).Malcolm was determined to make a difference in the lives of African Americans and that of many generations to come. Simone de Beauvoiralso advocated for integration of women into the male dominated industry and improvement of their living standards thus allowing them to make their own decisions about marriage, abortion and employment (Dalton 238). She was determined to challenge men by writing essays and articles about how women can help raise the economy and live separate and fulfilling lives that benefitted the whole community. “Manifesto” 1970 as written by gay activists advocated for the integration of gay members of the society into the schools, families, and social set-up because they were normal people that wanted equal opportunities in life (Dalton 252). They held violent demonstrations to protest the hate crimes and discriminations against gay members of the community. Their self-determination to make a difference stemmed from individual desire to be accepted by their families, employers and employees as normal and functioning members of the community. Implications and significance of the findings Gandhi fought for the freedom of Indians to maintain their traditional spiritual values that advocate for a simpler life. Today, many people desire the simple life of connecting with family and friends rather than enslaving each other with materialistic and luxurious items such as expensive clothing, commercial food, a crippling career that enslaves the soul and unfulfilled lives (Gandhi 7) Indians still maintain their spiritual values, which are emulated by many people world-wide. Simonede Beauvoir’s fight against the oppression of women not only provided equal opportunities for women in employment and social set-up but also allowed to supersede their male counterparts in politics, economy and social status. Simone’s fight is very essential because women now enjoy their freedom to make their own decisions (Dalton 273). Malcolm X was a historic figure in the lives of African Americans in claiming their civil rights. Malcolm’s death also marked a turning point for their voices to be heard through violence and uprisings throughout the U.S. African Americans now enjoy the equal rights of voting, good education, proper healthcare and improved living standards. “Manifesto” 1970 was significant in the fight for gay rights and against hate crimes against gay members of the community. This manifesto showed that gay people are normal people that have different sexual orientation. In the contemporary society, gay couples are allowed to marry and start a family with new and improved social values that incorporate all members of the society (Manifesto 18). Conclusion Mohandas Gandhi, Malcolm X, Gay Movements and Simone de Beauvoir all fought for the freedom of their people. Gandhi wanted to free Indians from oppressive and enslaving nature of Western culture according to an article he wrote called Self-Rule. Malcolm was a leader representing African Americans in the U.S that lived under the poverty line, committed crime and abused drugs. Malcolm wanted a better living standard for each African American and other future generations. Simone de Beauvoir fought for the freedom of women from the oppressive nature of a male dominated world. She advocated for equal rights, opportunity and status among women. “Manifesto” 1970 was written and compiled by gay activists that sought to educate other members of the society about gay community. The manifesto listed gay men and women as normal and functioning people in contrast to their previous labels of being queer, sick or screaming queens. Works cited: Dalton, Dennis. Mahatma Gandhi: nonviolent power in action. New York. Columbia University Press. Gandhi, M.K. Hind swaraj 9self-rule) 1909. Ganguly, Debjani and Docker, John. Rethinking Gandhi and nonviolent relationality: global perspectives. Columbia University Press. Manifesto. “The London gay liberation front”, 1970. Read More