COMMENTARY: An alternate view on violence in society
Garth Williams - Saturday, April 30th, 2011 at 6:26 PM
When we reflect on the history of seemingly ‘random’ violence or other forms of highly offensive, irrational behaviour, we see a common pattern of reaction from the public and media in their attempt to explain such extreme acts.
Rather than deeply examining the nature of human social development and the vast spectrum of influences that create and shape each of us in unique and sometimes detrimental ways, they take the easy way out.
The first thing they do is simply ignore all modern scientific, social understandings of what generates human motivation in both positive and negative regard; for to do so can only call into question the social system itself and hence the intellectual climate of the time/culture at large.
Generally speaking, it is historically accurate to say that the mainstream media (especially in America) simply isn’t in the business of challenging the Status Quo.
The limits of debate are firmly set. Virtually all ideas, persons or groups who have succeeded in changing the world for the better, later to be hailed as heroes in the public mind, started out being condemned by those in the mainstream media who latch on to the dominant world view of the time.
Even Martin Luther King Jr., a peaceful, loving, wonder of a man who contributed more to our social progress than likely any humanitarian in Western history, was followed by the CIA and labelled once as a “Communist” which he even had to defend in front of a Congressional Committee.
In fact, you can rest assured that if King was alive in the current paradigm today and seeking an equal form of justice – he would probably be given the name: “Terrorist”.
So, again, rather than taking the scientific view, the Mainstream Media often seeks out or implies one point of blame and runs with it.
After all, it is much easier, presentable and more simplistic for the public to think that the troubling reality of seemingly random acts of mass murder is the result of a “singular influence” and hence the logic goes that if that one influence is removed, then the world will be back in balance.
This gives the public a false resolve and position of focus in an otherwise unclear, complex world of social and biological influences.
And as far as the scapegoat itself, very often any group or media that is “counter-culture” or even hints at wishing to challenge the status quo, is a magnet for such blame.
Or in another case some people are content to say, “These are signs of the times, all we have to do is pray”. I say it is not enough to pray, some action is necessary. I dare say we need more action than prayer.
For example, musicians who represent this “counter-culture” have been a favourite scapegoat for acts of murder/violence historically.
Buju Banton – “Boom bye-bye”, Bounty Killer – “Fed Up”, Chuck Fenda – “Gash dem & light dem” and many other Jamaican songs were singled out and banned because they were to “blame” for inciting acts of violence.
Frankly, it’s simply pathetic – avoiding the true nature of the problem – which is the socio-economic environment itself.
Make no mistake: The Social System is to blame for the rampage of any serial killer, lone gunman who goes on a shooting spree or gang who’s defending turf or killing for reprisal.
I read a book called “Violence” by Harvard Criminal Psychologist Dr. James Gilligan. Dr. Gilligan headed the Centre for the Study of Violence at Harvard Medical School for many years. He spent his life personally engaging the most dangerous, violent offenders the US system produces, he found some basic trends.
The most common is the social issue of “shame”.
The global socio-economic system breeds social division and there is a natural demeaning of “others” generated as a result.
It is a scientific fact that mass murderers and those who many just dismiss as “evil” today, are the product of years of being shamed, humiliated and demeaned.
Their acts of violence is a reaction from these highly oppressive feelings and the real resolve to such acts can only come from removing the real source of such emotional hurt.
What our leaders and media should be focusing on, is critical thought regarding various social issues which challenge many erroneous notions held as “fact” in the modern culture and remodelling the current socio-economic system which puts over 80% of the world’s wealth in the hands of less than 10% of the world’s population.
We must promote non-violence, human unity and prosperous human development based on truth and science.
Copyright 2013 BVI News, Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
4 Comments
Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any public forum. All comments posted on BVINews.com reflect the views and opinions of the commentators and not that of the management and staff. Click here for our full comment/user policy/ agreement.
Where do we start when those who vote do so and give their rights to the few who places laws and restrictions on the many. We who are left are the last church spoken of in Revalations. If you look at it the first 6 churches represent how the people are connected to God. This last church is far away from God. There is so much oppression on anything that is good and the bad stuff is placed as if it is good. We the parents have our hands full and the teachers who really are trying have it even harder because they work according to their pay after being underpaid for so long. All I can say is LORD please show us the way that we may not be among the lost souls that cannot seem to want us to restore the values you have given us in your words. I pray for the parents, teachers and everyone who believes and gives God the glory and knows that with God all things are possible. Our work begins now. The opposite of progress is congress(politics).
The problem is with upbringing. Children need to be shaped by their parents, teachers and peers. Morals and values need to be instilled throughout the years. They need to learn right from wrong. Learn the power of using their minds and their skills to their fullest potential. They need to understand the self satisfaction that comes with acheivement. They need to learn to get along with other children and how to be a part of a team to accomplish common goals. They need to learn humiliation and how to pick themselves up and try again. They also must learn respect for others and how to deal with difficult situations in a diplomatic manner. They need to learn violence is a loss of self control and an action that is not rewarded but is punished. A young man brought up properly would never make a decision to brandish a gun, hold up a hard working man and shoot a weapon that can kill off in public where erradic bullets could maim another. Instead our children should be taught to reject violence, to speak out against it, and not to tolerate it nor protect their friends and family who partake in it. No young man should be shot by his friends and refuse to name his assailants. He should be strong enough and in his right mind to relate the name of his assailant and to testify against him in Court.
Our society is teaching the wrong things. We teach to not try hard inschool to get into good colleges so they can get good paying jobs and have decent lives. We teach them instead to be jealous of what others have and that it is their right to have what others have. We have taught them it is their birthright to take what is not theirs. We’ve taught them to only place themselves on a pedestal to disrespect others because of race or gender. We’ve taught them to disrespect the laws and the police. We’ve taught them to protect their family and friends despite the reason for protection being a criminal act. Wekve taught them to be the opposite of what God would want of his children. We’ve taught them to be antagonists to a serene community. Now, when we see the err of our ways we make excuses and condone the behavior by continuing to protect them and place blame on everyone and everything but the person who did wrong in the first place.
@Put the Blame Where Blame is Due,
You got it right on.
Education is all important
Education in its fullest sense (“shaped by their parents, teachers and peers”) is failing our youth because state-society is a failing system.
Education as a system has become a factory producing a willing labour force without the means to think beyond this.
You are right to say education does not provide a model of right from wrong. But then this is something our adopted economic model would be none to keen to teach!
The contemporary capitalist model tells our youth that everybody has a chance to ‘make it big.’ But statistics prove in reality that few do ‘make it.’
Finally, without education we are robbed of intelligent means to express our anger.
Brilliant article
Yes the Nation-State [Government] holds a monopoly on violence and war.
Yes we are robbed of our dignity by the State on a daily basis.
Yes we need to educate, organize and act now.
as Proudhon said;
“To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied upon, directed, legislated, regimented, closed in, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, evaluated, censored, commanded . . . To be governed means that at every move, operation or transaction one is noted, registered, entered in a census, taxed, stamped, priced, assessed, patented, licensed, authorised, recommended, admonished, reformed . . . exploited, monopolised, extorted, pressured, mystified, robbed; all in the name of public utility and the general good. Then at the first sign of resistance or word of complaint, one is repressed, fined, despised, vexed, pursued, hustled, beaten up, garrotted, imprisoned, shot, machine-gunned, judged, sentenced, deported . . . That is government.”
Post a Comment