Pubdate: Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Source: Caledonia Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Fort Saint James Courier
Contact:  http://www.caledoniacourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3189
Author: Raymond J. Bertrand

VIOLENCE BY ANY OTHER NAME... IS STILL VIOLENCE

The causes of violent behavior in humans are often topics of research 
in psychology and sociology. Neurobiologist Jan Volavka emphasizes 
that for those purposes, "violent behavior is defined as overt and 
intentional physically aggressive behavior against another person." .Wikipedia

We live in a world where violence abounds. Anger and rage are a 
phenomenon exhibited by individuals not capable of empathy. These 
individuals don't care who they harm. They don't care that the victim 
of the violence has friends, family, brothers, sisters, partners and 
children. When they beat someone it affects a lot of lives. The 
official and arguably the best bat in baseball history, the 
Lousiville Slugger was not manufactured as an instrument of 
destruction. The occipital lobe does not really resemble a baseball. 
The two should never meet and dire consequences occur if this rule is violated.

Violence is often unpredictable, unreasonable and completely unnecessary.

It is a tool wielded by unremorseful persons to gain control and 
compliance over others. In the drug trade it is equivalent to terrorism.

Some poor addicted soul "rips off" a drug dealer in order to support 
their own habit. The consequences are harsh. After all, these 
merchants of destruction have to send a message so others won't 
repeat the offence.

Soldiers (sic) are dispatched. Guns, knives, machetes, swords, 
baseball bats or two by fours are part of their arsenal. The object 
of the exercise; "Inflict pain, cause injury (sometimes death) and 
leave no doubt in the minds of others as to the fate that await them 
if they don't comply.

Hands and fingers have been chopped off, people have died from being 
attacked by machetes, others' have been found duct taped to their 
vehicle steering wheel and set on fire. Sometimes the victim of a 
beating is left in the ditch to die. Drive by shootings is not 
uncommon in some areas. Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Toronto and 
Prince George have all experienced this barbaric behaviour.

Have we as a society become so desensitized by "News at 11:00" to 
turn a blind to this lifestyle? Do we really believe that if we stick 
our heads in the sand it will go away? Don't we have enough medical 
emergencies (heart attacks, strokes, motor vehicle accidents, etc.) 
without accepting violence as an inevitable progression of life?

This could be a difficult concept to accept. The world practices 
aggression in order to achieve world peace. This has been repeated 
over and over again without achieving the results that were intended. 
It appears to be an exercise in futility. Beating someone up for the 
sheer idea of inflicting terror into the hearts of others is 
despicable and reprehensible. Do these methods work? Of course they 
do. for a while. And then the cycle continues.

One of the great pugilists of all time, Muhammad Ali said; "There are 
more pleasant things to do than beat up people." Gandhi said; 
"Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is 
momentary." John Donne wrote "...any man's death diminishes me, 
because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know 
for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Everyone is affected.

What about the innocent bystander? The good samaritan attempting to 
break up the altercation? The witness who is afraid to say anything 
for fear of reprisal but keeps the secret in the dark recesses of 
their spirit, suffering in silence?

We need to look at the world with a new pair of glasses. We need to 
promote peace, harmony and love instead of hatred, revenge and violence.

Albert Einstein stated; "Peace cannot be achieved through violence, 
it can only be attained through understanding." We need to practice 
understanding. We need to forgive those who have wronged us. We also 
need to stand up against those who choose to practice violence in our 
homes and communities. We need to be kind and loving to one another 
and to refuse to tolerate aggressive and violent behaviour from 
abusive people, drug lords and enforcers. We owe this to our 
families, our spouses, our children and our communities.

We do not live in a perfect world. Every individual does have the 
capacity to make the world they live in a little bit better. Stand up 
to the plate and do the best you can today. This responsibility does 
not only fall on individuals. The police departments have to take a 
stronger stand. The justice system has to incarcerate violent 
offenders instead of simply giving them a slap on the wrist. The 
politicians have to stand behind the judicial system to ensure every 
law abiding member of society is safe.

Your contribution will affect everyone and will ultimately make the 
world a better place.

Counselling services in Fort St. James are:

. Fort Alcohol & Drug Services, 996-8411.

. Nechako Valley Community Services, 996-7645.

. Nak'azdli Health Centre, 996-7400.

. Tl'azt'en Nation Health Centre, 648-3350.

. Adventures in Recovery Counselling, (866) 613-2667.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom