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I know that from a practical standpoint, non-violence is nearly impossible to maintain as an organization. We've had discussions on this before. However, as a conversational piece, I offer a few quotes from some of the Buddhist sects I've been studying:

Fujii Nichidatsu (1885-1985), founder of Nipponzan Myohoji:
"In the beginning I thought that religion, as something concerned with the inner human spirit, should have no say about politics or concern itself with social problems, but should stick to giving spiritual guidance to each individual person. However, these days, the problems we need to be concerned with necessarily involve the large social structures of the state, or even further, the world. Until the world itself changes, even individual moral cultivation is possible.

Fujii:
"What led me to assert non-resistance, disarmament and the abolition of war was not my encounter with Mr. Gandhi. When the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and I saw hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children die as though burned at the stake and poisoned, victims of a tragedy unprecedented in human history; when I saw Japan forced to accept unconditional surrender, then I understood the madness, folly, and barbarousness of modern war."

Monk Nichiren (1420-1483), founder of Nichirenshu:
"Where should the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra seek the Pure Land?...[the text] tells us [that] the eternal Buddha dwells in this world. Therefore one ought to seek the Pure Land in this world, and cultivate enlightenment not only in oneself, but in the world (Tangyo-Raihai)."

Mahatma Gandhi:
"Non-violence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute, and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law - to the strength of the spirit."

Back to Fujii:
"Civilization is neither having electric lights, nor having airplanes, nor manufacturing atomic bombs. It is not to kill human beings, not to destroy things, not to wage a war; it is to become mutually amiable and respectful. What constitutes its foundation is not the establishment of judicial system but religious faith that seeks gentleness, peace, simplicity, and uprightness."

"To make our bow not to injure the lives [of the Communist troops or those of the West] - this is [the meaning of] our unarming and forgoing of the rearmament of Japan. When we stand unarmed before forces of violence, we must be willing to suffer pain, humiliation, and brutal death through their violent actions. However, the pain, humiliation, and brutal death that may follow our nonresistance and non-killing will not be in vain. Without doubt, they will awaken the Buddhahood inherent in the hearts of the Communist troops or of the troops of the 'free world', who now believe in violence. Both the Buddha and Jesus practices nonresistance, non-killing, and nonviolence as individuals and fulfilled the possibility of building a peaceful society as individuals. The world situation today demands that eighty-four million Japanese as a nation choose nonarmament, so that they will be victorious over hatred with the power of mercy and over violence with justice, through their practice of complete nonresistance and absolute non-killing. This will be none other than the realization and manifestation of our Buddhahood."

"On the other hand, what would we do if Japan were suddenly attacked from outside while we were unarmed and defenseless, having renounced war? In such an event, our leaders would stand in a line before the awesome weapons of the invaders, bow to them with their palms joined in gassho and undertake peaceful negotiations with them. We, men and women of Japan, would follow our leaders and do the same. Should Japan meet the invaders in this way, no soldiers, of whatever nationality, would shoot at our people and bomb our land, however deep their hostility toward us might be. The human spirit has been so developed that no one would be able to do such reckless things. Herein lies the basis of faith in the Buddha's precept of non-killing.
However, it is conceivable that the invaders would mercilessly attack the men and women of Japan as well as our leaders, all of whom would be bowing with their palms joined, seeking peace. Should this happen, we would all lie side by side and meet our death. This holy sacrifice would bring about perpetual world peace. It would be the bodhisattva-practice of bodhisattvas who would deliver all humankind from its danger and suffering."

Finally, Art Spiegelman (artist and author of Maus):
"The holocaust did a lot for the liberation of the Hebrews, but in the past 40 years our realization of humanity's crimes against itself have waned and even more horrible things happen on a daily basis. Maybe what we need is a newer, bigger holocaust."

Sorry for the length.

It is difficult for any full political body to advocate nonviolence and nonresistance in *all* aspects of life, and given the atmosphere around Novos, redundant to say that we should apply it everywhere we can (I think everyone here believes in violence as a final resort solely). All of these quotes also stem from either Buddhist or Hindu philosophy, and we also seem to be in agreement that Novos should be - and is - non-religious in nature. I just thought they were good quotes whee

But you raise a good (if scary) point about modern warfare, something I haven't seen talked about a lot in Novos just yet. Dehumanization of the enemy, much moreso than what was seen even in the beginning of Vietnam, is the face of modern warfare. I believe that if a country is to make real, compassionate, humanistic decisions about war, the generals and higher-ups (i.e. the ones making the decisions) should be on the front lines at some point. Yes, that would be a stupid thing to do in terms of preserving military intelligentsia, but unless the war-hawks are *actually* in danger of being killed, I don't believe they should be making those decisions.

Of course, as Darfur has pointed out to us, the ability to see and slay your enemies up close and personal is not always a deterrent.

Ammon Hennacy's quote is perfectly on-point as far as nonviolence and nonresistance go on a personal basis, as is Gandhi's (of course).

War certainly has some strange effects. America, being the so-called "melting pot," is also unique in the church-state mixture. "Support the troops" is certainly indicative of points (1) and (3); the increasingly Christian doctrine and underpinnings of this administration's legal choices displays point (5). It's as though it is American to be Christian, and Christian to fight in the war. Similarly, it is un-American to disagree with traditional conservative values or to question the actions of the government.

This administration made me realize that non-Christians are a minority in America; never before had I felt like I was being opressed for not believing as they did.