Tan, John Lester A.

PS0942
1. What are the non-violent thoughts/teachings/principles that have you learned from the movie?
The non-violent thought/teaching/principle that I have learned from the movie was that heroism
was not all about bloodshed. Heroism is not in a way that one must fight with the equipped
power of destructive armaments. Aung San Suu Kyi instead continued the ideology of
democracy that her killed father had been fighting for in their country. She also used her faith in
herself. She did not use any weapons like guns which were all considered as violent means. It is
a testament to the power of the human spirit to defy even the most powerful oppressor which
was the Myanmar government. It can be inserted in this movie the general philosophy of
abstention of violence because of ideological and moral principle. She manifested that
nonviolence is most often associated with the intent to achieve social or political change. I
learned from the movie that the advocates of non-violence believe in cooperation and consent
of the people in which they would all unite to promote their united will. Another non-violent
principle is that nonviolent acts of protest are very symbolic in actions which were performed by
a group of people to show their support or disapproval of something. The goal of this kind of
action is to bring persuade or influence a particular group of people, or to facilitate future
nonviolent action.
2. What principle/s of Aung San Suu Kyi do you related with the most? Why?
The principle of Aung San Suu Kyi that I related with the most is that her principle of
nonviolence chooses love and not hate. It was in the part of the movie that she still invited and
talked to a military soldier with regards to her peace advocacy which were all written in a paper
and pasted all around the house. Despite of the strictness of the military soldiers to her, she still
managed to love her enemy and not to hate them. This manifested that love for the enemy is
how we demonstrate love for ourselves. As we began to love our enemies and forgive them, we
began to love ourselves. It was like as Jing Lin stated that Forgiveness is the key in achieving
inner peace. Aung San Suu Kyi did not ever try to hate the Myanmar government through
violent means but she continued to insist her principle of nonviolent love. Nonviolent love does
not sink to the level of the hater. Nonviolent love is unending in its ability to forgive. Nonviolence
brought love, friendship and understanding. I also related in this principle for I experienced it in

my life wherein I must forgive the people who sin to me in order for me to achieve my inner
peace through nonviolent means.
3. Are the principles/teachings of Aung San Suu Kyi still applicable in todays world? Why or why
not?
Aung San Suu Kyis principle of nonviolence is still applicable and relevant in todays world
because first it was evident in her country, Myanmar that she resorted to nonviolent means and
she succeeded through sweeping the military junta in elections which lead to winning
dominantly in the seats. Public violence includes bloodshed in the streets of numerous war-torn
countries throughout the world, robberies and lootings, and murders. The urgency of the people
to do and manifest goodness no matter how bad or worse the situation is. Nonviolence seeks to
defeat injustice and not the people themselves. It recognizes that the evil doers are also victims
and are not evil people. In this way, the system itself which are the injustices creates the violent
actions to the evil doers. Also, in this way, achieving success through nonviolent means can still
be applied in todays world even though destructive armaments are worldwide. A small percent
of nonviolence in the hearts of the evil doers can still be seen and change into peace. It can
transform and convert the enemy when reason fails. There must also establish a new political
leadership in which its goal is to respond to those who have been successful through nonviolent
means just as they will have to respond to those who have made change through violence.