IFPNPInternational Dialogue

IFPNP International Dialogue

  

 Guidelines for Gandhian Satyagraha

 By 

 Michael W. Sonnleitner 

 

November 21 to 22, 2024 4.00 pm IST@ Google meet 

 

 GUIDELINES for
Gandhian SATYAGRAHA

I. Truth (Sat & sat): “The Law of Progression”

1. Conduct of actions must be without secrecy.

2. Original demands may be raised only if the opponent raises new issues

during the course of a campaign.

3. Original demands may be lowered only if self-reflection leads to an

admission of their being wrong in the first place.

4. While “compromise on non-essentials is permissible, “bargaining” has

no place.

II. Nonviolence (Ahimsa): “The Law of Distinction”

1. Nonviolence towards the physical presence of all people is necessary.

2. Nonviolence in thought and language towards all people is of great

importance. (“Hate the Sin and not the Sinner”.)

3. Patient willingness to accept change over time is required.

4. Constructive Program activity is a prime basis for facilitating change.

III. Voluntary Suffering (Tapas): “The Law of Compulsion”

1. Self-Reliance should be promoted at all times, implying:

a. Only those who are directly affected in a given campaign can actively

participate.

b. Participants can neither actively seek nor become dependent upon

outside financial resources.

2. Self-Sacrifice must be seen as a necessity for progress, including:

a. Everyone should live and act in an exemplary manner.

b. Quality rather than quantity of participation should be emphasized, a

c. All participants should cultivate non-reliance upon [physical force.

3. Weaknesses or disabilities of the opponent are not to be intentionally

exploited.

4. The role of coercion, government, and enforcement of laws in social

change is to be minimized.

Michael Warren Sonnleitner 

Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, USA (July 11, 1949).

(“maiden” name before 1983 marriage: “Johnson”); Wife: Kristine; Children: Margarita, Sonrisa, Shaman, Mira.

Home Address: 1037 S.E. 80 th Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97216-3010. Home Phone: 503-285-5827.

Personal email: soulom2u@hotmail.com PCC email: michael.sonnleitner@pcc.edu Cell Phone: 971-988-2427.

EDUCATION: PH.D. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis): March, 1979. M.A. March, 1976.

Major: Political Science; Supporting Program: India/China Area Studies.

Examination Areas: U.S. Constitutional Law, History of Political Thought, Comparative Political Systems.

Dissertation: Soul Force & Social Change according to Mohandas K. Gandhi & Martin Luther King Jr.

(Lambert Academic Publishing: Latvia, EU, 2019.) ISBN#: 9786200314185.

B.A. Whitman College (Walla Walla, Washington): June, 1971 (Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude,

with Honors in Political Science & transfer credits from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee).

High School Diploma Highline High School (Burien/South Seattle/SeaTac, Washington): June, 1967.

Elected Trustee (Zone 3), Portland Community College Board of Directors (2015-2023).

Co-Chair, PCC Board Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (2018-20); Vice-Chair,

PCC Board of Directors Audit Committee (2018-21); Oregon Community College Board representative (2020-2023).

Portland Community College: RETIRED Full-Time Political Science Instructor: 27 years (1988-2015).

NOTE: Originally hired as full-time to a split-appointment, I have taught courses at PCC Sylvania (1988-2003),

PCC Rock Creek (1988-2011), PCC Cascade (2000-2015), and PCC S.E. (2004-2007 & 2013-15).

2007-2023: Portland State University: Graduate-level courses taught part-time for the M.A. Program in Conflict

Resolution; Undergraduate courses also for Political Science Department

1985-1987: University of Northern Iowa: full-time assistant Professor of Political Science.

1984-1985: Loyola University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago; Northwestern Illinois University: part-time Instructor of Political Science teaching Judicial process, U.S. Security Policy, Politics of China &; Japan.

1979-1983: Illinois Wesleyan University: full-time Assistant Professor of Political Science.

1973-1979: University of Minnesota (Minneapolis): Teaching Assistant & part-time Instructor of Political Science.

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR in India: six months (November 29, 2009 to May 29, 2010).

PROJECT TITLE: “Teaching Peacebuilding for Social & Structural Change in Multicultural Societies & a Multipolar World”.

COURSES TAUGHT: (at St. Thomas College, Palai, Kerala): Gandhian Thought; American Government; International Issues.

(at Mahatma Gandhi University): International Relations: Theory & Practice; Nonviolent Action.

Other Training/Travel Experiences:

Ten weeks in India: participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, teaching “Gandhian Nonviolence & lecturing: Jan-March, 2023.

Five weeks in India: lecturing on Gandhi & participating in a re-enactment of the Salt March of 1930: Feb-March, 2020.

Two weeks at a China Seminar at the East-West Center (University of Hawaii-Manoa) Title VII Grant: Summer, 2013.

Fulbright Scholar returning to the U.S. via Italy (one month), Israel & Palestine (one month), & Egypt (one month): 2010.

Invited Scholar to the International Association of Gandhian Studies Conference in New Delhi: 1987.

Delegate to the UNICEF International Seminar on Training for Nonviolent Action (3 weeks in Mexico): 1977.

Summer Peace Internship working with kids during the “troubles”: Londonderry (Derry), Northern Ireland (2 months): 1974.

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship: to study "Experiments in Nonviolent Action" in India (6 months), & 1-4 weeks in Japan,

Hong Kong, Thailand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Republic of S. Africa, Italy/Sicily, & Great Britain: 1971-72.

Exchange student attending Fisk University in Nashville, TN: autumn of 1969.

U.S. Senate Internship (in Washington, D.C. Office of U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson): Summer, 1969.

Orchard worker at Auvil Fruit Company, Orondo, Washington (with migrant workers): 15 summers during 1962-1981.

Other Awards/Honors:

Invited Keynote Speaker for Centennial Celebration at Gujarat Vidyspith (Ahmedabad, India): January 10, 2023.

Elected President, Peace & Conflict Studies Consortium (Pacific Northwest regional association): April, 2007-2010.

Outstanding Faculty Person of the Year Award (Portland Community College, Rock Creek ASPCC): 2006.

Male Faculty of the Year Award (Portland Community College, Rock Creek ASPCC): 2000.

Nominee for Portland Community College Faculty Excellence Award: 1992, 1998, 2003.

Excellence in Teaching Award: Illinois Wesleyan University: 1982

All-expenses fellowship grant for graduate study in Political Science at the University of Minnesota: 1972-75.

Ford Foundation Graduate School Fellowship recipient at the University of Minnesota: 1972-75.

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study ‘Experiments in Nonviolent Action” abroad: 1971-72.

Sloan Foundation Scholarship recipient at Whitman College: 1968-71.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN OREGON:

82nd Ave. Improvement Coalition (June of 2014-2023): Coordinating Committee member & member of the 82 nd Ave.

Business Association Board (2018-present); successfully lobbied for a $200,000 study

funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation and jurisdictional transfer to the Portland Bureau of Transportation in 2022.

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (2007-2020): formerly the “New Sanctuary Movement”; helped to

develop support networks for undocumented persons; seeking meaningful

immigration reform via educational actions; achieved passage of the expanded Oregon Sanctuary Act in 2021.

Ascension Catholic Church (2004-2020): assisting my wife in providing occasional educational programs as well as participating in various fundraising efforts (like the annual Spaghetti Dinner), and service activities associated with the Daybreak Homeless Shelter Network. Now also attending St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Daybreak Homeless Shelter Network (2004-2017): assisting houseless families in S.E. Portland in a variety of ways; moving beds, serving meals, sleeping overnight, playing with kids, and helping to

provide bus/van transportation between the day shelter and Ascension Church as part of the rotating evening host institution.

Montavilla Neighborhood Association (January of 2014-2017): regularly attending meetings, Chair of the Board (2015-16), otherwise Vice Chair. Became more involved in the neighborhood where my family lives, on issues ranging from land use to transportation, affordable housing and crime issues.

S.E. UPLIFT (March of 2014-2016): attending meetings, serving as an active Board member (at large), having also gone to meetings of most of the 20 neighborhood associations with members elected to the S.E. Uplift Board as a means of facilitating communications and action among groups with common community concerns.

PCC PACS Program (1990-2015): facilitated establishment of Portland Community College (PCC) Peace & Conflict Studies (PACS) Program (1988-90), the first at any community college in the U.S.; PACS Program

Chairperson or Co-Chairperson (1990-present); NEWSPEAK coordinator, fostering weekly &free speech; events at Sylvania Campus (1998-2003), setting similar traditions Rock Creek (2004-2011), and at Cascade (2004-2005 & 2011-2015).

PCSC (1988-2017): Peace & Conflict Studies Consortium (previously the Oregon Peace Studies Consortium): Board member representing the PCC PACS Program (2004-2015), helping organize annual regional gatherings and two national conferences; serving as President (2007-2010).

DaVinci Middle School (1998-2002): was among the 20 founding families who created, organized, and functionally serving as the staff for this Arts Magnet Charter School within the Portland Public School (PPS)

District; also served on a PPS Committee to set up criteria to review applications to such all schools.

Foster Parent Program (1998-2000): my wife & I were trained as foster parents under emergency conditions, providing a home to an undocumented teenager, who we later supported to complete her high school and community college degrees, gain dual U.S./Mexican citizenship, and Margarita became a daughter to us.