Pacifism is only a choice if you have the capability to enact violence. If you don’t have the ability to exert force, pacifism isn’t a choice; it’s a chain that your oppressors have put on you, while calling it jewelry. The entire point of pacifism is to send the message “we can if we want to, and we choose not to. This is your chance to start negotiations in good faith, because the only thing stopping us is that active choice.”

In short, pacifism without the capacity for violence is simply sparkling victimization. Speak softly, but carry a big stick.