Occupied with Nonviolence by Zaru Essay (Book Review)

Response to Chapters 1-6

There are some important insights that Zaru discusses when describing teaching experience. Firstly, the main problem of teaching non-violent doctrine in a hostile environment is how to nurture the concept of justice, which is why the most valuable lesson lies in learning the culture of personal growth and development. Zaru believes that the most serious hindrance “to personal growth and to working for peace is feeling powerless or hopeless; and the most important thing I could impart in my classes, then, was a sense of empowerment, a sense of competence to make decisions about how we want to live, and a sense of optimism about the future.”[1] This passage is especially important for the author because it is a theory developed by Zaru from the personal experience of working in the hostile environment. However, such a motto is universal for every person who faces hostility or a lack of understanding in society.

Zaru also discusses how generalization diminishes an understanding of personal tragedies because people “want the truth to be simple, but every time we insist on such a simplistic portrayal we diminish the truth and deprive ourselves of the richness of each human story.”[2] The author attempts to emphasize the fact that seeing tragedy from the point of view of statistics destroys the personal value. In my opinion, diverse perceptions of life stories affect people’s emotions in different ways, which is why the reason for misunderstanding between persons often lies in their unwillingness to see the complexity of the situation. While Zaru discusses the need for complex truth in the realm of personal tragedy, it is also important in a bigger theme because, in my opinion, the little details of each particular situation affect people’s emotions very strongly.

Response to Chapters 7-10

One of the crucial issues that Zaru discusses is that outer transformation begins from the transformation on the inside. The key to such transformation is in trying to transcend boundaries because, in a situation, where it is obvious that the society does not function in the right way, the change is only possible if individuals use different mechanisms. For the author, it is mainly applied in the context of political struggle. Zaru suggests, “if we are not inwardly transformed, if we still seek power and position, if we are motivated by greed, if we are nationalistic, if we are bound by dogmas and beliefs for which we are willing to die and to destroy others, we cannot have peace in the world.”[3]

However, in every avenue of life, the change always starts from motivation, and, in my opinion, some imposed dogmas can restrict a human personality in every sense and try to suppress the desire for a change.

Conclusion

It is also important to point out that Zaru does not believe in revolution without motivation, underlining “commitment and spirituality that is deeper than the ethics of revolution alone.”[4] The author sees the value of such an approach in overcoming fatigue of constant struggling. It is important to point out that any sense of achievement, according to Zaru, is impossible without the feeling of doubt in future success. I can relate to this statement on many levels. However, in my opinion, it also helps not to confuse the goal and means used to achieve it because spirituality makes an effort in any avenue worthy.

Bibliography

Zaru, Jean. Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2008.

Foonotes

1. Jean Zaru, Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2008), 9.
2. Ibid., 19.
3. Ibid., 93.
4. Ibid.,108.