For a long time I have been puzzled by the awareness of so many good people having other religious affiliations than mine. It has been difficult to reconcile this fact with all the news of atrocities and violence we hear and see in both local/national and international news. Recently, I came across a video clip and a write up in another social media addressing this puzzle on the 'silent peaceful majority.' I have uploaded both here. Let us have the views of colleagues on this matter. How historically true are the points expressed in these materials? How do you explain the role of the 'silent majority' in the face of rising terrorism every where? I mean the presumably peace-loving respectable people in the same religion as those wreaking the havoc but are keeping quiet. What does the silent majority need to do to promote world peace?
Thank you for the invitation. I agree with the aforementioned responses. The way for the world peace seems too long.
Regards
Their role is immaterial in putting a stop to the rising terrorism. By not speaking against terrorism connotes that one is supporting the menace, especially if you are of the same religion/creed with the terrorists. From what is happening in Nigeria, you will agree with me that those who failed to speak against Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen, are the ones supplying them with weapons, finance and other logistics. This may not be different in other countries.
Dear R N Uchem,
I cannot answer for German people because I'm Polish, living in Poland. However I have former experiences as contacts with this culture. My answer is more universal and not concerning only German citizens. The role of silent peaceful and peace loving majority was and is rather passive. After terrorist attacks in many regions of the world as in US, France, Germany, Belgium etc. the peace lovers usually mourn in public places and are terribly psychologically confused because of the gigantic, unexpected and logically inexplicable aggression and the destruction towards their cultural values, norms, social lives and safety by virulently terrorists. Usually, they are not inclined to answer in the same way filled with hate or aggression, because they appreciate peace and rather are hoping for repentance of terrorists. What peace lovers do more except mourning? Please analyse social life depicted by various credible media, after terrorists attacks in US, France, Belgium, Germany.
Thank you for the invitation. I agree with the aforementioned responses. The way for the world peace seems too long.
Regards
I think Beata is right when she says that they are conflicted psychologically. They know they aren't the same as the terrorists yet are linked by media or other citizens. It would take a very strong person to know how to behave in the face of this conflict.
I believe a key issue to consider is the level of organization of civil society from below. In much of the mainstream literature this issue is essentially invisible, ignored or distorted. Many interesting lessons can be learned from the theory and practice of the new social movements in many different contexts. In Latin America for instance some of the salient characteristics of these movements in Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia, are a concern for territorial autonomy (material and political sovereignty); the practice of direct or participatory democracy (to command by obeying); a recovery and reaffirmation by indigenous nationalities of their cultural identity and integrity; a cooperative and horizontal organization of work that is free from all forms of exploitation, discrimination, exclusion and contempt; and encouragement of new forms of development based on relations of social solidarity and harmony with nature. There is not much literature in English regarding these movements. I highly recommend you to follow Raul Zibechi's work, some of his books have been translated into English.
In essence these are new social movements represent new forms of resistance against the systemic violence generated by the global capitalist system today: generalized poverty, accumulation by dispossession, forced migration, global warming, unbearable level of wealth concentration, increasing social inequalities, etc. I believe that underlying this systemic violence --against which these new social movements are struggling-- relies the violence of terrorism and the organized crime.
I think the way to go is to look at the lower strata of the society. I just came back from a research tour of Ulunya Ovoko, Igbo-eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. We found a community in peaceful turmoil. The enlightened, educated youths do not seem to respect the Igwe (traditional ruler) who appears to have the respect of uneducated youths and the elderly,. The Igwe seems to also have the recognition of the higher governments. The so-called peaceful majority do nothing but look while the feuding youths make community development impossible - we heard how contractors sent by the state government to construct a water borehole were chased out of the site only because the infrastructure came through the Igwe. There cannot be national and international peace if the local or lower strata of the society are not in peace. Silence is not the answer to any social problem. The silent majority should speak out.
Thank you for your comments, Jonathan. Your response, however, applies to a context quite different from that of Islamic extremists and terrorists originally envisaged in the question. Thanks all the same.
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