On Friday, Jan. 28, Elizabethtown College held a discussion on the power of nonviolent principles, led by Rev. Amy Shorner-Johnson. This talk was part of the Beloved Community Collectives series.
The idea of the “Beloved Community” comes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He saw it as the end goal of nonviolent boycotts. It is the ideal of reconciliation and goodwill between people that will bring us all closer together. The talks included in this series all revolved around understanding each other and the world around us, striving for the goal of unity.
Shorner-Johnson explained King’s six principles of nonviolence. She also discussed other nonviolent leaders and movements over time–all of this helped show how these principles are impactful today.
Shorner-Johnson chose to speak on this topic because she saw a chance to add to the discussion of coming together as a community. As someone in religious life, she sees these principles reflected, but also knows that it encompasses more than just one religious view.
“A lot of people follow nonviolence because of their leadership, their willingness to suffer, their willingness to engage folks in the long term,” she said. “I think it incorporates a lot of spiritual principles broadly.”
Although the talk was on the power of nonviolence, Shorner-Johnson acknowledged the impact violent movements have had in the past as well. The question of “Who do I want to be at the end of this?” shapes her views on how people enact change.
“I think this [nonviolence] is something that has to be really well practiced. It is a lot of internal work,” she said. “I think either way, you are taking a risk. The question then is, ‘What risks do we have if things stay the same?’”
Nonviolence may not have the same immediate impression we see with violence, but it actually has been more effective than violent ways of creating change. Shorner-Johnson explained that anger can be good if used correctly and not just in reactionary ways.
“If anger is not just a response to the threats that are in front of us, but it is an invitation for change, then what are you willing to do in order to ask for that change?” Shorner-Johnson said.
In general, nonviolence is about having the courage to fight injustices and take on suffering in the name of peace. It may seem bigger than just daily life, but our little actions are steps in the right direction for change.
“I think whether or not people choose to use these principles, they are worthwhile knowing because how we respond to issues of injustice is critical to how we learn to live together in this world,” Shorner-Johnson said. “It will be better if we’ve at least engaged the questions more deeply.”
Nonviolence and the Beloved Community were two of King’s visions. This talk, and the others of this series, took on King’s vision and brought it to students in accessible ways.
“They are all about the complex ways that we can work together, that we can address not what’s just bubbling at the surface, but what’s going on underneath,” Shorner-Johnson said. “Hopefully we can slowly address some of the things that we are awakening to, both in ourselves… and in the larger work of justice.”
Shorner-Johnson tries to embody the King’s ideals in her daily work.
“I love the idea of Beloved Community. It asks the question, ‘What does it take for somebody else to belong in this community if they are very different than me?’ I think that is the only way that we are going to move forward.”
