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.