Violence begets violence

“…the ultimate weakness of violence: it multiplies evil and… it doesn't solve any problems.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Widespread violence has been the order of the day across the country, as a fallout of peaceful protests which spiralled out of control. The protests called for the end to a cycle of VIOLENCE perpetrated by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – a police unit better known for extortion, harassment, torture and murder of young citizens.

In a bid to end the protests which had gone on for several days in the streets, impeding certain socio-economic activities following blockage of roads, security forces resorted to VIOLENCE by gunning down unarmed civilians.

Evidently, this situation originated from (the use of) VIOLENCE and, as Lord Byron noted, “the sight of blood to crowds begets the thirst of more…” Michael N. Nagler also points out that ”…allowing violence to be used, or reacting in kind - will only serve to increase the violence.” It is, therefore, hardly any surprise that this chain of violence has only degenerated.

Smoke billowed overhead in several parts of the country as aggrieved (and even manipulated) youths, as well as unscrupulous opportunists, took to the streets to burn and loot malls, banks, vehicles amongst other government, public and private properties. Prison breaks have also been reported.

Tension and insecurity now rent the air; all taking root from the unproductive yet prevailing culture of VIOLENCE pervading our society. What is the way forward?

While it may not always be easy to embrace nonviolent alternatives in the face of agitation, it is pertinent to remember the words of Isaac Asimov that, “Nonviolence doesn't always work - but violence never does.”

VIOLENCE has consistently failed to produce any good, temporary or permanent. It there behoves on the government and the people alike, to sincerely pursue justice and equity through dialogue and understanding, because, according to Edward Bond, "if we do not stop being violent we have no future."