[net.religion.jewish] Refusniks and Passive Resistance

kort@hounx.UUCP (B.KORT) (02/02/86)

While I am not knowledgeable about the Soviet Refeniks,
I believe they are applying an ancient Jewish tradition
in coping with political authorities.  It is the method
of passive resistance and non-cooperation.  Michener,
in _The Source_, made a point of highlighting examples
of Jewish passive resistance.  The idea was carried to
extreme by Jesus, and later used very effectively by
Gandhi.  In our own time, Martin Luther King revived
non-violence + non-cooperation as a powerful tool for
dealing with oppression.

The method forces the oppressor to "go public" with
his enforcement, and the police state becomes visible
to all.  It's a courageous, but dangerous way to live.

--Barry Kort