Finally, this is very refreshing; I've felt this way for a while now. I do treat violence like a disease. I treat all vices and social issues like diseases. I don't see it as good or bad because I don't think that's my call to make; I can't possibly know the umteengazillion variables to be considered for an event such as a shooting or suicide can lead to good things, bring people closer together, etc. I believe good and bad coexist in everything. Nothing is all good or all bad in my eyes.
But for every unfortunate and inconvienent disease, there must be applied a proper remedy. The remedy for violence is peace. You can't make others be peaceful or nonviolent. You can't make anyone do anything. Sure, you can invite people to do things (in various forms of conscious and subconscious) and you can lead someone towards someting, or suggest to them something, but you can't physically MAKE anyone do anything; in the end it is their choice. But you can control yourself.
Like vices, I also treat virtues like medical conditions, and I know it to also be contagious. More than a few times I've had to confront multiple threats and not once did I resort to violence. I use psychology, sociology, eastern techniques, nonviolent self defense forms, and other suitable Remedies, and, afterwards, was met with looks of surprise and astonishment that I was able to eliminate threats without anyone getting hurt. When people see that, they want to do it too. Why? Well, just because it's awesome; it defies what many have been brough up to believe that "In this world, violence is necesarry". I scream a resounding BULLSHIT. There's always another way. You may not be aware of it, or see it right off the bat, which is why commitment, training, and discipline are so important. So that you can spot and seize oppertunities on the fly to create a new chain of events in the very near future, and doing the right movements, and choosing the right words, for the right individual(s) and at the right time. It's NOT easy. It takes practice. As superheroes, we shouldn't just take the easy way out. We should bust our asses off to find and teach something better. =)
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Subject: Violence is Contagious 
Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:42 pm
