The Paradox of Being a Warrior and a Monk: Subtle Activism in Claude A. Thomas At Hell’s Gate
الملخص
Soldiers turned activists have played a pivotal role in advocating for social and political change throughout history, choosing often direct and overt forms of activism to push for their antiwar causes. While direct and overt forms of activism have been predominantly the traditional methods employed by activists, there is a growing recognition of the potential effectiveness of using more subtle and less confrontational approaches to address social and political issues. Subtle activism has gained prominence in recent years in different political and social contexts. However, in the context of war, little attention has been directed toward how antiwar subtle activism, social justice aspirations, and personal politics intersect and manifest outside overt normalized oppositional politics. This article intends to reclaim subtle activism as an exceptional form of antiwar and peace protest through a close examination of Claude Anshin Thomas’ At Hell’s Gate: A Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace (2004). Drawing on David Nicol’s subtle activism as a theoretical framework to inform the analysis, the paper argues that subtle activism offers Thomas meaningful participation in the realm of social justice, enabling common ground, such as antiwar sentiment, to come about. The paper allows for an adequate representation of veterans whose form of activism is not in line with traditional forms of activists’ expressions and performances. It also helps to undermine the negative perceptions surrounding spiritual activism to fully appreciate its potential for positive social change.
المراجع
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