The creed of Pacifism has been followed by some of the world's most astute leaders. We have to ask ourselves: is there a reason for this? Pacifism is defined as “the belief that all violence, including war, is unjustifiable under all circumstances, and that all disputes should be resolved by peaceful means” (Oxford Dictionary). For many, pacifism is not just a belief, it is a lifestyle practiced by people known as pacifists. The ideal pacifist will not fight because he is convinced that peaceful dispute is the best solution to the conflict. There is no argument that peace is an essential factor in today's world, enabling not only the growth of society, but of humanity as a whole. Pacifism has also been used throughout history as a safe means of protesting and challenging the evil that dwells in the minds of hateful and racist people. Peace is the silent weapon wielded by many who understand the true strength of unity and love. Many have used peace in an attempt to defeat the immoralities of the world, such as racism. Peace and violence are two approaches to racism in the United States that remain consistent. There have been many great leaders who have dedicated their lives to eliminating racism and have caused numerous riots that have brought attention to the topic. One thing is certain: hatred and racism are alive in the United States. A pacifist named Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. He was a musician who promoted messages of peace and love in his famous reggae music. He left an imprint on America through his story and his songs. He was a Rastafarian who had strong morals and sought a more peaceful world. Born to a black mother and white father, Marley saw no reason for unfair treatment due to his skin tone. He believed his music was special and thought he could make a difference in the world through it. Bob Marley wanted to rid the world of hatred and racism with his music; he had strong opinions and songs that fought mental oppression, spread peace, and promoted proper moral etiquette. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A constant message conveyed in Marley's songs is to fight against oppression. Oppression is “an act or instance of oppression or of subjection to cruel or unjust impositions or restrictions” (Oxford Dictionary). An early example of oppression would be when early America enslaved Indians and African Americans. These people were oppressed both physically and mentally, however we have only removed the physical attribute to a certain extent because (physical) slavery is illegal and (mental) racism continues today. Marley's goal was to fight racism (a form of mental oppression) with music. Marley conveys the message of freeing oneself from the bondage of the mind (mental oppression) in his “Redemption Song”. In the lyrics of this song Marley says: “emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, no one but ourselves can free our minds”. In this he is saying that we are the only ones who can choose to allow ourselves to be possessed by the slavery of the mind. No matter what's keeping you down, whether it's depression or the social class you're in, Marley makes it clear that only you can break free of it. There are many people in the United States bothered by the problem of racism, but Marley says he doesn't let it affect him. He wanted to unite people against the idea of ​​racism through his music. With his message he influenced not only the United States; in a biography touching on his impact it states: “The influence of Bob Marleyamong various populations remains unparalleled, regardless of race, color or creed. Bob Marley's revolutionary yet unifying music, challenging colonialism, racism, the “fight against ism and schism” (Bob Marley official website). Another example of oppression is the abuse of authority. This is a form of physical oppression similar to bullying and we see it in many places in the United States today. For example, police officers who abuse their power in violently dealing with suspects. Many people have sought justice, as they feel oppressed by these government powers and have not only seen this as the evil that it actually is, but have started to rebel on the subject. This is exactly what happened in Ferguson, Missouri during the shooting of Michael Brown. Many African Americans became aware of oppression, or at least a form of racial discrimination, and reacted not only with protest, but with violence. They followed Marley's idea of ​​fighting oppression through unity, even though carrying it out through violence was not what he wanted (he was a pacifist). Marley encouraged people to stand up for their rights as human beings in his song "Stand up, stand up", saying: "stand up, stand up, stand up for your rights, stand up, stand up, don't give up". fight." People who listen to this song are encouraged to recognize their rights and speak out. Marley, growing up in poverty himself, wanted people to fight the physical and mental oppression of poverty. He uses himself as an example of someone who he fought against this oppression and won. There is poverty everywhere in Jamaica, but it is also a recognized problem in the United States. Although Marley did not see wealth as a true value and believed that the homeless should not be looked down upon : “The greatness of a man lies not in the amount of wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to positively influence those around him” (The Life of Bob Marley sees the quality traits of personality as one). true wealth, just as peace is a quality trait of a nation. People living in the ghettos of the United States are oppressed by poverty, but just as Marley did, they too can escape it. The only way to do this is to free your mind from the idea of ​​being predisposed to failure. Marley sees oppression as an obstacle in life that can be avoided if contemplated and reasoned with. One of the many topics to which Marley's life was dedicated was the battle against oppression. Marley's goal of spreading peace was a key attribute of his character. He believed in unity and that everyone should come together to fight the real problems of the world. He states: “We must love one another, live in peace and harmony. Instead we argue and argue” (The Life of Bob Marley). In this quote, Marley exemplifies his dreams of a world progressing in peace and love. This connects him to pacifism in America because he also conveys this message through many of his songs. Marley being a pacifist, tried to bring peace to his community. When living in Jamaica, his most memorable achievement was performing a free concert at "Smile Jamaica" with the aim of uniting the country's corrupt politics. Marley was preparing on the night of the concert with his band, including his wife Rita, when they were attacked by a shooter. Only slightly injured by the attack that attempted to prevent the concert, Marley was treated and courageously performed that same night even without some members of his band who were hospitalized. His response to the attack was one of his greatest quotes: “The people who stoodtrying to make this world worse they don't take a day off. Why should I” (The future is the beginning). Marley shows his relentless effort to spread peace in this world through this quote. He refuses to let the evil and hateful people of this world stop him. What drove Marley to go so crazy that he spread peace? Love. Love was Marley's fuel in his relentless heart to bring peace to the world. While living in Jamaica, he wrote a song in which he expressed his hopes that the government would settle down in peace and put aside all disputes. His song “One Love” says: “One love! A heart! Let's get together and feel good. Hear the children cry (One love!) Hear the children cry (One heart!), Saying thank and praise the Lord and I'll feel good, Saying let's get together and feel good. “One love and one heart” means to unite as one in love and understanding. “Let's unite and feel good” and “let's hear the children cry” refer to the peace he desires and how children are also affected by the unrest in Jamaica. His love for Jamaica and the world has helped him convey such simple yet powerful messages through his songs. Respect was another way Marley had tried to spread world peace. The elimination of all racial discrimination would allow for a world with much less oppression. Marley also made it clear that in all battles between races he was neither the victim nor the racist. In a statement on racism Marley said: “I am not on the side of the black man, I am not on the side of the white man. I'm on God's side” (The Life of Bob Marley). He affirms the importance of God's judgment and believes it is the only opinion that matters. Respect is deserved by all human beings and, as we know, respect for others will be reciprocated. Mutual respect is another peace that could be spread in this world and Marley recognized this. Finally, promoting proper moral etiquette was important in the lives of people around the world. Marley knew that conveying this message in his music and behavior would set an example for the immoral, conflict-inducing people of the world. Marley had strong morals that gave him such a genuine conscience and vast wisdom. His morality was the anti-politics of salvation through love, an unshakable knowledge of the unity of all humanity. Most of the songs created by Marley contained positive messages. Marley was a Rastafarian with strong core beliefs. Rastafari have created a wide variety of spiritual and moral variations within their religion. Some Rastafarians see Rasta more as a lifestyle, while others see it more as a religion. Marley saw it as a way of life because he also believed in God and saw Rastafarianism as a good spiritual and moral connection to the world. The Rastafarian lifestyle usually included the ritual use of marijuana, the avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of dreadlocks (this was because the body was seen as pure in itself), and vegetarianism. Marley said that "Rastafari is not a culture, it is a reality" (The Life of Bob Marley). By saying this, Marley means that his life and the decisions he makes connect to Rastafarianism. Marley hoped to promote correct morals among immoral people with his music. He wanted to remove hatred from the world and replace it with love. Marley literally believed that his music had healing powers. With his music, Marley wanted to heal the world of all hatred. He saw hate as darkness and his music as light. When Marley performed, he was "lighting up the darkness" (The Future is the Beginning) and bringing love to replace hate. Marley's music, being.