BLOG #08c - Violence - The Fallout
Just a few words, following up on last week's blog, regarding the fallout of violence:
"LAST RESORT
If, as it does happen, you see that there is no way around it, sometimes you have to become the violence. This has ramifications, legally, spiritually and psychologically…"
VICTIMIZATION
Violence creates victims which may perpetuate more victims and effectively produce more victims.
In our society, we often see generations of pain passed down from parent to child, and it usually ends up being systematically spread to create subcultures of crime and violence. Ask yourself: What is the likelihood that a violent criminal will have children who are happy during their childhood? Even if they make it to adulthood without full exposure to their family's violence, they are pretty likely to get some residual effect of association WITH the violence perpetuated. I won't elaborate on any specific violent criminal, but let us just agree that if Hannibal Lecter had a son, people would probably associate the son to the father's activities, to some degree. He might, as a result, receive ridicule and torment from peers. Sooner or later, he may act out, violently.
These days, we can look at celebrities's lives and violence, as the media parades it into mainstream viewing. How many of them had acts perpetrated against them, and are living them out, in a very visible (well-funded, thanks to you and me) way? Do you think that the young minds (also watching) are not effected, perhaps even idolizing some of the violent acts publicized? Make no mistake about it: those young minds are victims, after the fact. And how many of them end up locked up or dead trying to emulate the acts or what they were led to believe were the acts of violence masquerading as "being a real man, woman, thug, etc..? Don't get me wrong: This is not a knock against any particular celebrity or performer. This is just the most visible example I could find in common society.
LEGALITIES
I have already mentioned the continually-growing number of youths being locked up and killed while acting out the violence passed down. That is just one level of the legal fallout of violence.
Even those who would protect themselves (or the weak who cannot) are faced with the distinct possibility of having to fight in court, even after having fought for their lives. It is important, therefore, that we do not "go overboard" in our zeal to be rid of an attacker.
Of course, when it comes down to you or them dying, then legal troubles take a far corner in the back of the room. After all, it doesn't make sense to die, unnecessarily, just to avoid having to deal with our "Just Us" system. That would be like… destroying your mailbox just to avoid having to get bills.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE
People who have done violent deeds toward others are often tortured souls. In protecting our self, we have to be aware and disciplined enough to do only as much as is necessary to get clear of danger. This kind of self-control serves us from a legal position, as well as from the psychological standpoint.
After having avoided some of the violence around our world, and when faced with such situations which cause us to have need of the tools of self-protection, we are left with the need for compassion and appreciation for life to keep us from falling into the darker parts of our worst selves.
I will end this blog with a little story:
When I was growing up, there was a kid I knew, very well, and we grew up and apart. While in high school, he was pressured into joining a violent gang, which was not out-of-the-norm, unless you liked getting beat by groups of violent kids. Well, he joined, and after awhile, he found that one of his new peers was still putting unfair pressure on him, so he decided to join the rival gang, as well. It did not last for very long, because although he was able to get some moves done to protect himself against the one assailant, he now found himself in a crossfire between the two gangs… with nowhere to run!
He managed to survive, with a little help from some young "neutral" martial arts masters-in-the-making, and their mission became clear, as a result. And that is why part of my mission is to provide martial arts training and guidance to youths who want to avoid becoming powerless victims of inner city violence, because the truth is: there is no power in violence. People who rely on violence are usually fighting for control of something that they have no hope of actually controlling, and it will always end up the same: pointless.
No comments:
Post a Comment