Our city has had two public shootings in broad daylight within the last month. As we process these events, the question arises: "How do we respond to such violence?" The senseless tragedies caused by biterness and hatred for people is hard to comprehend. In last month's shooting my wife walked through the area exactly one day after that event to visit a client. She found out from her client about the actual shooting location. How would we respond if it was one of our loved ones? Certainly one could rationalize the situation and justify bitterness and hatred. Yet there is far too much bitterness and hatred in the world. They are powerful forces. However, I have learned a stronger force that stops these two -forgiveness. They seem weaker courses of action, but in reality when you actually forgive, the force is greater than hate. When Jesus said to forgive others, I see that not as excusing the behavior, but as breaking the vicious cycle of hatred and bitterness that leads to violence. The other question would be: "Why is it so difficult to grasp and carry out forgiveness?"
Very good point sir, and I agree wholeheartedly. Now as to what causes them I have my own thoughts... When researchers overcrowd mice, they found they became violence and aggression, with rats in the crowded pen “going berserk, attacking females, juveniles and less-active males.” There was also “sexual deviance.” Rats became hypersexual, pursuing females relentlessly even when not in heat. (from https://nihrecord.nih.gov/newsletters/2008/07_25_2008/story1.htm)
ReplyDeleteCan we say that the same behavior exists in our society? I see it becoming more violent each year and say that if we outlaw guns, they'd just use baseball bats and sticks.
Roy,
ReplyDeleteWe have seen other attacks in the media with knives. Baseball bats and sticks are a possibility. These weapons do not have the magnitude of a gun in many eyes.
The overcrowding of people could be a contributor, but many cities in the world have much more density and low violence. I wonder what other factors contribute to the violence? For one person it is probability more than one and for a society at large there have to be several.