The Hindu : Front Page : They marched to a different beat: Jackson

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Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008
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They marched to a different beat: Jackson

Staff Reporter

“Gandhi and Dr. King changed the world in life and in death”

— Photo: PTI

apostle of peace: American civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson sits next to a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, during the Gandhi Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Asserting that Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy was as relevant in these times as it was 60 years ago, noted American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson said had the father of the Indian nation been alive today, he would have challenged the conflicts that the world was witnessing at present.

“He would argue that there is no nuclear weapons’ balance possible, only unfathomable destruction and counter-destruction, if due to some fit of foolishness they are unleashed…Gandhi would challenge the war in Iraq and the right to pre-emptive strike, invasion and occupation. He would challenge the vast billions spent in such a degenerate way. War is unsustainable, unnecessary, expensive and immoral,” said Reverend Jackson while delivering the Gandhi Memorial Lecture on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti here, where Bapu spent the last 144 days of his life, the celebrated activist said: “To Kenya, he [Gandhiji] would appeal to put down swords, stop the killing and disfiguring the legacy of a great nation. Africa needs revitalisation, not revenge.”

Pakistan situation

“His heart would bleed over the crisis in Pakistan next door, where relatives and families are split by borders and religion. His heart would bleed over the assassination of [Benazir] Bhutto. He would cry out to relieve the tension within Pakistan and between Pakistan and India … Pakistan deserves world-class, open, free, fair and transparent elections,” he noted, referring to the political developments in the neighbouring country.

Gandhiji, Rev. Jackson underscored, would have urged global investment in the poor; infrastructure to struggling societies; use of modern technology not for weapons but for ways to fight global poverty; and to provide drinkable water to people.

“He would challenge the Middle East, Israelis and Palestinians to shared security. He would urge the United States and Russia to be brokers and bridge builders, and to choose peace and not merely choose sides … He would challenge them to do something more difficult than war; give peace a chance, choose co-existence over co-annihilation. Gandhi would urge that we wipe out poverty and not the poor and save our children.”

The King comparison

Comparing Martin Luther King Jr., one of the leading exponents of the American Civil Rights Movement, to Gandhi, Rev. Jackson termed them as “drum majors and dreamers.”

“Dr. King and Gandhi were drum majors and dreamers who marched to a different beat, and heard a different sound…Dreamers most often are change agents, sometimes called misfits… Dreamers are politicians with a new vision, a new capacity to connect with exquisite timing… They are the stuff of which change is made…This master teacher and the master student — Gandhi and King — they changed the world in life, and even more powerfully in death.”

Dr. King, he pointed out, embraced Gandhi’s values and tactics.

“He embraced non-violence, humility and dignity not merely as a tactic but as a way of life.”

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