Foregone Conclusion?

Cast from the short lived MTV cartoon series "Clone High." The show lasted eight episodes, and was reportedly cancelled due to complaints over the representation of Gandhi. (from left: Robot, JFK, Cleopatra, Abe Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Principal, Gandhi). Courtesy MTV.

Since the end of my week doing my best to “Go Gandhi” I have continued to think about all the ideas that Gandhi’s life and his writings in Hind Swaraj bring to our lives. I find myself comparing every day situations to those that Gandhi faced during his work in South Africa and beyond. I have continued to see him come up in references, from intellectual to pop culture, and it is astounding the level of impact he continues to have. (Last night I was watching the television show “The West Wing” and they were talking about him explicitly – season six)

In thinking specifically about Gandhi’s ability to forgive people for their own wrongdoings, and seeing their trespasses against him as merely the results of a tainted system, I find myself thinking very specifically about the current challenges facing our world. I wonder: How would Gandhi deal with Osama Bin Laden? How would he address global warming? Would Gandhi see himself as part of the global citizenry, or would he stick to Indian affairs?

Then I wonder what tactics he would use in facing said challenges. Would he work with corporate-like NGOs and non-profits? Would he travel to other countries and live and work amongst the downtrodden? What would he have to say about the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society? Would he start a group on Facebook?

While I know that my learning about Gandhi through the Ahimsa Center will stick with me for the rest of my life, I am finding (as I do with most things), that Gandhi’s legacy leaves me with more questions than answers. I only hope that I will be able to continue living my life with those “Top 5” things that Dr. Parel outlined for me at the beginning of this study, and that the spirit of Gandhi’s actions will envelop me. I know that I will continue to experiment with my own life in search for truth, and I am depending on you to do the same.

- Christopher

ps. Entries from other Ahimsa Center fellows will now start to be posted on the main page of this blog instead of the Ahimsa Opinion page.

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