World Politics
Got this piece earlier and found it interestingly strange! I was initially hesitant to believe the story but found this letter from Gandhi to Hitler...
It's hard to imagine 2 more contrasting historical figures. One is
considered to be one of the most (if not *the* most) peaceful men in
history, and the other will be hated forever for starting a war that
killed 50 million people.
By 1939, it seemed that the world was headed for a war of a really
large scale. Thinking he could make a difference, Gandhi's friends urged
him to write to Hitler and dissuade him from making the mistakes he was
about to make.
His letter was simple, to the point and only a couple of paragraphs
long, Gandhi told Hitler that he was the one person who could prevent
the war that could reduce humanity to savagery. After asking him to
listen to "the appeal of one who has deliberately shunned the method of
war," he even apologized if his letter was an inconvenience! What's most
striking to me is that he opens and closest the letter by calling
Hitler his friend. I think it's a reflection of Gandhi pacifism that he
considers everyone his friend; however some might say it's just a
formality. What do you think?
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