I recently read a speech that Gandhi in response to the continual unrest between India and Pakistan in 1947. The speech was given soon after India had gained its independence from Brittan. Gandhi makes some very good points in this speech, concerning how politicians would rather ignore problems as they begin to rise, and favor letting them get to a tipping point before action is taken. If no true politically-driven peace efforts are made, then war is inevitable, Gandhi says.

We can see how this idea could be applied to our world today concerning global warming. It is only now, after experiencing what many interpret as extreme weather conditions that are linked to rising global temperatures, that we start to make efforts to repair the problem. But, as Gandhi pointed out in his speech, we run the danger of getting too close to the tipping point. As a result, wars and inequalities are bound to develop.

I’ve always admired the peaceful and passive resistance Gandhi exhibited in removing the British from India. But, as history tells us, it wasn’t longer after he gave this speech Gandhi prayed and blessed the missiles India launched into Pakistan. For all his work and protest he eventually failed to maintain his belief in passive, humanistic approach to life and government. That doesn’t mean one cannot still find inspiration in his legacy; many do. We must remember that we all may have hopes for peace, but if those means and goals are not the same, we will not reach it.

I admire how Gandhi is fearless when speaking about his own country’s poor actions and decisions. He has the ability to admit when he, or his country, were wrong. We, on the other hand, do it wrong and never stop to think about it.