Metta Center For Nonviolence: Rehumanization

Blessed gratitude to son Brian for sharing this link...

Peace & blessings ~ Molly

Rehumanization

Rehumanization is the process by which an individual or group is recognized by the opposing group as innately worthy, noble and deserving. In order for violence to occur, opponents must be dehumanized — reduced to a group unworthy of moral consideration (see dehumanization). How, then, do dehumanized groups become rehumanized?

Violence reinforces the stereotypical qualities of an already dehumanized group by solidifying the dehumanized groups’ depiction as barbarous, immoral, and animalistic. Nonviolence, on the other hand, never denies the humanity of the opponent, instead acting with compassion, consideration, and, at the very least, no-violence. An adherent to principled nonviolence resists the oppression (the act) but not the oppressor (the agent).

It is difficult to portray a nonviolent group as savage or devoid of moral consciousness when the nonviolent resistors are enduring violent action with humility, patience, and acceptance of self-suffering. By maintaining their own humanity, the nonviolent group defies the dehumanizing label with the potential of being recast as human once more. Thus, the power of nonviolence is the power to rehumanize a dehumanized group or individual.

http://www.mettacenter.org/blog/rehumanization

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Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks

for another day of loving.
- Kahlil Gibran