Philosophy
I am of the strictest opinion that the philosophical ideologies of Malcolm x are far more reliable and effective in dealing with a situation where I am in a position to stop an assassin from taking the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The philosophical teachings of Malcolm x are far much better in such a situation than the philosophical teachings of Gandhi himself. To answer the question if I saw an assassin about to take the life of mahatma Gandhi and I had a rifle and a clear shot of the assassin I would take out my weapon and take the life of the assassin with extreme prejudice.
Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophical teachings emphasized mostly on nonviolence. Mahatma Gandhi believed in resolving all issue irrespective of their gravity using peaceful means. He believed that acting peacefully served as an example to the oppressors. He believed in being better than the people he was in conflict with and not stooping down to their level. I am sure he would frown on my saying that I would by all means shoot an assassin that is about to murder him. Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy is very valid in the sense that it sets a better example. Non-violence means the capability to turn the other cheek in the face of oppression and violence. It means holding strong to one’s beliefs of peace and not allowing oneself to be corrupted by the oppression they are undergoing or be influenced by acts of violence in the surrounding world.
As delightful as Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence is, the fact remains that the world needs Mahatma Gandhi.An assassin about to take his life has to be stopped by all means. I have to apply a more realistic approach in such a situation. This assassin is about to kill Mahatma Gandhi and I am sure the philosophy of non-violence is clearly one he does not identify with. I cannot jump in the path of the bullet because I value my life just as much as I value Mahatma Gandhi’s life. There is also no assurance that this assassin will stop hunting Mahatma Gandhi. If he fails to kill him in this particular instance there is no evidence suggesting that he will not try again and again at a later date.In this situation a more realistic and permanent solution is required. The world needs Mahatma Gandhi and allowing an assassin to take his life in the name of the philosophical ideology of non-violence holds absolutely no merit.
Malcolm x was a philosopher who some considered a militant. He believed in respect and equal treatment for all human beings. Malcolm x also believed in justice and doing the necessary in a given situation to ensure that justice is indeed served. I would apply the philosophical teachings of Malcolm x in such a situation. One such philosophical teaching is the assertion that sitting idly and watching evil run rampant in the streets is equal in magnitude to the perpetration of that evil. Standing by and watching Mahatma Gandhi get killed by an assassin would do absolutely no good for the world.in such a situation it is necessary to take full action and ensure that justice is served not only to mahatma Gandhi but also to the assassin trying to take his life. Certain situations demand that action be taken and that evil should be stopped at all means by the willing.
The philosophies of Malcolm x may be interpreted as extremism. Some might even say that in taking the life of the assassin I prove to be no better than the assassin. This could not be further from the truth. Taking the necessary actions against an evil in society should never be confused for extremism. Malcolm x never advocated for extremism he just spoke out against inaction. He believed in taking initiative and acting in accordance to what one believed. Standing idly by and watching the assassin take the life of Mahatma Gandhi can be equated to me taking the gun and killing Mahatma Gandhi myself. I saw evil being plotted and I was in a position to stop it and prevent it from occurring again in future. This is not extremism it is simply realism.It is initiative and taking every available opportunity in life to make an impact and ensure that justice is served unto all people. If I let the assassin kill mahatma Gandhi in the name of non-violence then I am no better than the people who hired the assassin or even the assassin himself. With such inaction I allow myself to actively take part in the evil and injustice that has plagued our society and is about to rob the society of one of the greatest philosophers of all time.
Clearly as I have demonstrated above the philosophical teachings of Malcolm x are far much better and more applicable than the philosophical teachings of mahatma Gandhi when I am in a situation to stop an assassin from killing mahatma Gandhi. The philosophical teachings of Malcolm x are not in the least bit extremist. They are just realistic and tend to take a more practical point of view.
Works Cited
Atkinson, Elizabeth. Mahatma Gandhi. Mankato, MN: Creative Education, 2009. Print.
X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine Books, 2005. Print.
