Day 62 - Rahil Khan

In world where violence seems to be the only answer for dealing with conflict and injustice, it can feel as though non-violence has no place. I have hope though that people can be reminded of the potency of non-violence.


Non-violence still matters for the simple reason that it preserves something violence always destroys: the possibility of a shared future. Violence can generate quick, visible outcomes, but it hardens divisions, fuels resentment, and often creates cycles that are difficult to break. Non-violence, by contrast, maintains a hope for dialogue, accountability, and eventual reconciliation. It recognizes that today’s opponent could still be part of tomorrow’s community.

In a world where conflict can easily dehumanize people, non-violence tries resist this tendency. It says that justice cannot be built on an approach that will reproduce the very harm that people are trying to end. This doesn’t mean people are being passive in the face of unjust behaviour; it just means that the injustice is being confronted in ways that don’t reproduce it.

Finally, non-violence matters because it shapes the kind of world we are trying to create. If the goal is a society grounded in respect, fairness, and cooperation, then the methods we use to get there can't be irrelevant. Non-violence connects means with ends. It reminds us that how we engage in a struggle is inseparable from what we ultimately  are trying to build as a community, society or country.

So we can do our part to show people why non-violence still matters today - and how it can be the 'new' default response for resolving conflicts between individuals, communities, and nations.

Rahil Khan
Ottawa, Ontario