"بسیاری از مردم احساس می‌کنند که صحبت از صلح و عدم خشونت در برابر حکومتی که تنها پاسخ آن حملات وحشیانه بر مردمی بی‌دفاع و غیرمسلح است، بیهوده و بی‌فایده است."

Imagine you're in a small café, savoring a warm cup of coffee with a friend, and they drop this thought-provoking line: they’re basically saying that it seems pointless to keep striving for peace and non-violence when the government keeps responding with brutal force against innocent civilians. This makes you pause and think, doesn't it?

The heart of this idea is straightforward. It's the frustration and helplessness people feel when their peaceful efforts are met with violence. You’re trying to have a calm, rational conversation, but the other party is throwing punches—literally. It’s like trying to reason with a storm; your words get lost in the whirlwind.

Now, let’s rewind a bit and place this in a historical context. This sentiment echoes the pain and desperation many activists felt during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Imagine Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers preaching non-violence in the face of brutal police crackdowns, fire hoses, and attack dogs. Despite their peaceful protests, they were met with sheer brutality. This quote could easily be the voice of someone witnessing these events unfold, questioning the efficacy of peace when faced with relentless violence.

Let’s dive into a concrete example. Think about the protests in Hong Kong a few years back. People took to the streets to demand democratic freedoms. They started peacefully, waving flags, singing songs, and holding signs. But the government's response was harsh—tear gas, rubber bullets, and mass arrests. The world watched as the situation escalated. Protesters began to wonder aloud if peaceful demonstrations were truly worth it when their opponents were so ruthless.

So, what should you do if you find yourself in a similar situation? Here’s some advice: don’t abandon your principles of peace and non-violence. Instead, amplify your voice. Use the power of the media and social networks to show the world what's happening. Document every act of violence, every injustice. Make it impossible for the government to hide its actions. Remember, the goal is not just to confront the oppressor but to win the hearts and minds of the broader public. Gandhi, Mandela, and King—all faced violent opposition, but they won global support through steadfast commitment to non-violence.

Picture this scenario: you're leading a peaceful protest. You’re marching, chanting for justice, and then—bam—the police show up in riot gear. They start pushing, shoving, and the scene quickly turns chaotic. You’re scared, angry, and you might start to think, "What's the point?" But then, something happens. Someone with a camera catches everything. The footage goes viral. Suddenly, everyone’s talking about it. People who were indifferent start paying attention. The brutality of the response highlights the righteousness of your cause. You’ve managed to turn a violent response into a powerful statement for your movement.

In essence, while it feels like you’re caught in a futile struggle, there’s deeper power in maintaining peace and non-violence. It’s not just about the immediate confrontation—it's about the long game, about changing perceptions and winning broader support. It's tough. It’s frustrating. But history shows us that it’s also incredibly effective.