Is it ever right to use force to overthrow the government?

Would it ever be right to use force to overthrow the government? If it's going to be overthrown, must it be done entirely peacefully, or is a violent revolution acceptable (or ethical) in some situations?

 

There are some extreme circumstances which would allow it. The Nazis would crush anybody that got in their way. They had to be taken down as a matter of world peace.

x

 

What government and why?

 

I definitely agree that there are some circumstances that would allow it. And Nazi Germany was a good example of when it was necessary.

Not to change the topic of the thread, but since you're here, I may as well bring it up...since you equate Zionism with Nazism, do you think Hamas (or any other Palestinian group) has the right to use force to take down Israel?
I don't think it's one of those circumstances where force (used by either side) is a solution to whatever injustice is going on there.

 

The people who have a problem with Israel don't have a problem with Jews . Its not because they're "Jewish" thats creating the problems. Its because zionism is a racist idealogy that holds Jews over everybody else in the world.

Even Iran's leader said that his beef is with the zionist government and not the people themselves. The real problem is you have a system is place that favors Jews over anybody else.

Racism loves this kind of a setup because you can create racial strife and keep yourself in power forever. Violence cannot solve the problems Israel has.

Its not just orthodox Jews and zionists either. Christian zionists want to turn Israel into a Christian nation. Certain Muslims would like to do the same.

When you have so many different parties involved, the fix becomes very difficult. Israel has never known peace, because zionism constantly creates the enemies it needs to keep itself in power.

The answer then becomes obvious. If you want peace, zionism needs to be unplugged from power and outlawed just as the Nazis were. This needs to be done by the Israeli people themselves rather than an outside force.



x

 

What would make them want to do that? And how would the Israeli people go about dismantling their Zionist government?
I guess I'm kind of playing the devil's advocate here.

 

I voted for the first option. I don't think that any government or institution would give up power willingly. I also think that many institutions are just inherently corrupt, like Zionism for example, and need to be abolished completely, which is always a violent process.
There has never been a truly revolutionary movement that has accomplished it's goals through entirely peaceful means. Dogmatic pacifists most often end up just strengthening their oppressors.

 

How do you outlaw an ideology? I don't really think it can be done without a lot of censorship...I mean, you defend the right of Holocaust revisionists to debate history (which is a right I don't believe they should have), but those censorship laws are a significant way that neo-Nazi movements are suppressed. So why would it be okay to "outlaw Zionisim"?

One of the big problems with forceful revolution is the methods used to keep control and order afterwards. In the past, this has involved censorship and political repression, when this went against the original intent of the revolution to give the people power.

 

i think force is sometimes nessecary. look at america. we forcefully overthrew in order to obtain freedom.
i do stress sometimes, in the vary rare case that it is impossible to do it peacefully.

"We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it."- Ernesto Che Guevara

 

The constitution says it's our duty to alter or abolish our government if it no longer serves the needs of the people.By any means necessary.

 

It may soon become apparent that we have reached a point where a government is being given the power by a majority to oppress the minority which leaves little choice as to what action must be taken, much the same way that brought about the creation of the U.S. as a country in the first place.

 

How do yo overthrow a government without force?

Isn't that called an election?

 

Yes, force is acceptable, but only as a last resort.

 

force is acceptable if its in defense of one's rights or safety. If my rights are being taken away by the government, damn right I'll use force.

 

Elections are most appropriate when the majority does allow the government the power to expand the application of necessary suppression into overt oppression. The U.S., once called a melting pot, has not resulted in a Nation made up of like minded citizens, but has allowed politicians who wish to gain or retain power to take great advantage of the cultural, racial, and other differences that exist within the society as a whole to divide the people into more or less controllable voter groups. The governments power to give does not exist without the power to control as it should be obvious that government has nothing to give without the power to first take what it is giving. The first step is for government to determine unique desires of the various factions, and then find ways to turn those desires into critical needs which they then go about catering to with campaign promises and/or legislatively. Essentially the government sits above the citizens, who are kept in constant battle among themselves.

 

well this was a tough 1i'm a pacifist so i personal no not believe that violence solves problems, how ever we would still b under british rule if we had never revolted!!!

 

I voted - Yes, force is acceptable, but only as a last resort.

As long as we vote for the president and representatives(and it is not fixed), we will always have the means to overthrow the government. If we ever find out that the voting process is fixed and the government is oppressing the people, then YES violent revolution would be justified and necissary. Not only that, it is our DUTY!

From the DOI:

 

I think history might show that most if not all governments started out or ended up with armed struggle.Struggles for power are obviously still going on.I agree with some other posters---when or if necessary,it would be time to hit the streets.If I see parachutes in the sky---it would then be a good day to die.

 

Is it time yet?

 

i think if neccesary, yes. if the people's rights, or basic human rights are being violated or taken away, yes.