this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2026
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"A freedom fighter learns the hard way that it is the oppressor who defines the nature of the struggle,and the oppressed is often left no recourse but to use methods that mirror those of the oppressor. At a point, one can only fight fire with fire"
–Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
We won’t get the support we need if we go out there and start setting things on fire. Most of the country doesn’t even know what’s happening right now. We have to get them on our side. Don’t have too much faith in the people to do the right thing. We have to convince them first
What are you even arguing in this quote? People are peacefully protesting now. If the violence against peaceful protest continues to escalate then tactics will need to shift to resist that.
I am arguing that I don’t think it’s a good idea for people to go out and start violent riots right now
So we peacefully protest the concentration camps?
Yes unfortunately that is the reality. You have to remember how little awareness the average American has. If we start acting violently that’s all they’ll see, but if we stay non-violent in our civil disobedience it’s a lot harder for them to dismiss us.
I can't tell what you think my point is. I don't think Nelson Mandela was saying to just go do a bunch of violence. Its unfortunate but at some point people will start defending themselves instead of being killed. Its going to be called violence whether or not that defense is peaceful. I'm not advocating for violence, but were not the ones being violent!
In part I was responding to the thread as a whole, not just you so sorry for any confusion. You’re right, Mandela was saying that only after a certain point a few more extreme measures were required. I just don’t want people playing into the hand of the current administration. If they have to lie about what the protesters are doing then their position is a lot weaker than it would be telling the truth. Yes they’ll try and spin the narrative, but we’ve got a better shot not freely giving it to them