Violence Leads to More Violence
We have been responding to violence with violence for so long that we are well on our way towards being overwhelmed by violence. The violence that we experience today is overwhelming, but with each new violent response to the previous violence, the violence in the world increases - and will continue to increase even more. In the moment when we experience violence from another or from others, a violent response in turn seems to be the only reasonable action. “We can’t let them think they can get away with this. Take that!” And every time we respond in this way to violence done to us, the other side has the same response. “We can’t let them think they can get away with this. Take that!” Neither side ever thinks they started the violence. What do both children always say when the teacher separates them from a fight? “He started it!” Each side thinks that their next act of violence should settle the matter. However, each violent response prompts the next violent response.
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