VIOLENCE

What is our world coming to?

The numbers show that the majority of you will become the victim of a violent crime.  In fact, we have crimes today that didn't even exist twenty five years ago.  Home invasions, car jackings swarmings, and gang violence for example.

Terrorism is on the rise, especially since 911, and police statistics tell us that the number of muggings and purse snatchings has risen.  More and more weapons are being seen on the streets and at the schools every day.   Even certain sports are under attack for being too violent. You and I are faced with violence every single day. So, why are we so violent?? And what can we do about it?

Our parents and grandparents believe that life for their generations was safer compared to today.  However, looking back in history 50 years ago or so, the world was at war.  Since the 1900's there have been two world wars, the Korean and Viet Nam wars, Desert Storm, strife in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine, Iraq, and numerous others. 

There is hardly a time in history when the world has been at peace, or non violent everywhere.

Self defence instructional courses and videos are becoming more and more popular every day.  My grandmother took one of these classes last year, and my advice to you would be "Don't mess with Nana -- she can flip you faster than a New York minute.

TV has long been blamed for being a violent influence on our society.  I can see why this would appear to be so.  Just watch a few minutes of "Power Rangers"!  But violence in TV, particularly cartoons is not new.  Check out Bugs Bunny, Wylie Coyote, and the Road Runner.  Bugs is always playing violent pranks on others, the roadrunner escapes death each episode and Wylie coyote…well, he is trying to kill the roadrunner! These guys were vicious, and they've been around for decades.

But TV alone cannot be blamed for promoting violence.  Literature throughout time has been a virtual playground for every kind of devious act imaginable.  Nursery rhymes are most children's first exposure to the written word.  Mother Goose's "Old Woman" that lived in a shoe beat her children, and the poor "Rock a Bye Baby fell out of a tree!  Hardly peaceful.

Fairy tales too do not tell a much better story.  For instance, Snow White - sounds safe.  What is more serene than white snow?  However, here we have a girl whose stepmother wants her heart ripped out, then, she poisons her with an apple.  And who can't forget poor Hansel and Gretel.  They're ditched in a forest, and held captive by an evil witch who wants to eat Hansel. Then these kids push the old women into an oven to die a hideous, painful (and not to mention smelly) death. I would say that cannibalism is violent, wouldn't you?  No wonder kids have nightmares!  I wonder what Stephen King reads to his children before they go to bed.

Psychologists blame the breakdown of the family unit as part of the problem with our society.  Maybe that’s the answer.  What we need is more quality, family time.  So...let's play some board games!  I love board games!  Good wholesome fun.  Let's see....SHARK ATTACK!  No, the mane alone sounds violent.  CLUE!  Let's play Clue!  It's my favourite!  Here we try to figure out who murdered Mr. Body with what horrific instrument.  Maybe not.  Battleship!  Just try to sink my war ship and thousands of sailors too....No, forget that....Well there is always scrabble?

How about sports! Since the Ancient Greeks athletic competition has always been seen as a beneficial method to bond! So, let’s go to a….ohh... Hockey game! You know, a few years ago I heard on the radio that the NHL franchise in Houston Texas was running a promotion to get more people to their hockey games.  It is that they guarantee at least one 5 minute major penalty per game for fighting and if it doesn't happen, every one in the stadium gets a free ticket to a future game. And have you ever actually seen a hockey player? Many of them have smiles somewhat lacking in the dental department. Maybe sports aren’t the answer. I guess the Greeks had a…”different” idea of what wholesome fun was.

Rather discouraging, isn't it?  It seems wherever you turn, violence smacks your right in the face.

Society is taking steps in the right direction, though.  Capital punishment has been abolished for some time in Canada, most schools have a hands off policy and our legislators have passed gun control and registration laws to combat the problem of weapons.

Maybe we all need to just ponder nature for a while.  (Stop and smell the roses?)  Mother Nature....green trees, soft grass, blue skies, calm waters....The chirping of birds......little birds eating worms....big birds chasing little birds.....cats stalking all birds and then there's    BANG....the sound of hunters.