◆ SpookStack

Rebuttal: Nonviolent action does not work primarily on the rational level. If discussion and reasoning were enough to convert segregationists, nonviolent action would not be necessary. It is because the power of logic is not enough that nonviolent action was devised, for nonviolence brings three more kinds of power: economic power, political power, psychological power. Economic power - under strategy and tactics. Using arms in self- ' defense adds nothing to this power. Political power - This involves making it difficult for the politicians to rule without making concessions. Mass demonstrations are powerful on this level : they make it appear that the politi- cians are not incontrol. This is why demonstra- tions are often attacked even though they do not seem to be threatening anything. Using arms in self-defense does not add anything to this power, since it only relieves the authorities of some of their difficulties in repressing the demonstrations. Psychological power - There are racists who have been converted, and many moderates who have moved closer to the civil rights struggle as a result of this power. Using violence would detract seriously from this power. Would the Christian Church be involved as much as it is in the struggle for change if the movement had been violent? 116 This has already been discussed . A final point on the question of racism and diseased minds: peychiatrists in progressive mental hospitals now use nonviolence rather than violence with the mentally ill because they find it heals better. For farther explanation of how this psychological power works, see George Lakey, NVA: How It Works (Pendle Hill Pamphlets, Wallingford, Pa.) Argument 5: Finally, when push comes to shove, the power structure will be ruthless in dé@fending its privileges. Nonviolence is all very well when there is not much at stake-- a cup of coffee, a few votes between tweedle - dum and tweedle-dee, a handful of jobs. But when it comes to votes in areas where Negroes form large proportions of the population (hence by “ their nature as workers and poor farmers could create a social revolution by the ballot box), when it comes to real numbers of Jele, housing, schvols, when the Negro movement begins to march upon the real citadels of the power elite, then ao mercy - Will be shown, and we will be crushed despite all the protestations of Christian love. Only arme will save us. Rebuttal: In this argument means that the only way 170, 000, 000 whites will give up their key privileges is for 20, 000,000 Negroes to defeat them with arme, then there is no hope. Obviously,.Negroes | with .22 rifles and dynamite are not going to defeat tanks, planes and overwhelming numbers. Trying this guerilla-type terrorist activity will 117