Say No to Violence

What do we mean by violence? 

Violence is the expression of physical force against one or more people; compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt. Worldwide, violence is used as a tool of manipulation and also is an area of concern for law and culture which take attempts to suppress and stop it. The word violence covers a broad spectrum. It can vary from between a physical altercation between two beings to war and genocide where millions may die as a result - Wikipedia.

What is/are d cause(s) of violent behaviour? 

The top 10 causes of violence in the order as cited by young people;

1.                  The Media

2.                  Substance Abuse

3.                  Gangs

4.                  Unemployment

5.                  War, weapons

6.                  Poverty

7.                  Peer Pressure

8.                  Broken Homes

9.                  Poor Family Environment / Bad Neighborhoods

10.             Intolerance / Ignorance

Factors like sex, race, family status, and economic position, force some teenagers towards violence. While all of these factors contribute to violence, children exposed to gun violence were two times more likely to become perpetrators of violence.

Violence can be in many forms like verbal harassment, verbal terrorization, blocking one’s access to escape and the physical like hitting, choking, biting, sexual abuse, use of a weapon, murder, and suicide. It may engage teens as victims or perpetrators as well as their families, school officials, strangers, or others. Homeless teens are more involved in violence, particularly those from minority backgrounds. -familyeducation.com

What does the Bible say about violence?

Ø    Gen. 6:11 says, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (KJV).

Ø    Ezekiel 45:9, "Thus saith the Lord God; Let it suffice you, O princess of Israel; remove violence and spoil, and execute judgement and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord God".

Ø    Prov. 3:31-32a says, "Do not envy the violent person, and choose none of his ways; for the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord".

Instances of violence:

Ø    News Headline: Vocational School Teacher Shot by Student in Los Angeles!

Following an argument at a California vocational school, a student returned to the classroom armed with a gun and fatally shot a teacher several times, police said. LAPD officers took the suspect into custody as he left the school building. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Another student was injured and was in stable condition at a hospital. - Daily Independent newspaper, Friday February 25, 2011.

Ø    UK-Based Nigerian Pastor , Albert Odulele, Pleads Guilty To Sex Attack On Boy

The UK-based Nigerian priest, Pastor Albert Odulele, who heads the Glory House Church in East London has pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a 16-year old boy at the church premises in Kent. The 47-year old pastor admitted in court today that he indecently assaulted an underaged boy. Pastor Odulele was arrested last year and later charged by the Metropolitan Police's Major Child Abuse Investigation Unit with two offences - an indecent assault of an under 16 year old, and the sexual assault of another male teenager- according a Channel 4 news report.  He will be sentenced to prison at a yet-to-be-announced date.  -Sahara Reporters

Daily, we read, hear and even witness instances of violence committed by young people and young people make the highest statistics of victims. So, there goes wasted lives and wasted destinies; tears, sorrow and blood flowing in the land. Where do we go from here???????????????????????

Quote of the Week! 
“When I despair, I remember that all through history, the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it - always". - Mahatma Gandhi.

“We need to take a harder look at what’s really going on. Stop trying to treat the symptoms and treat the cause of the problem. Maybe we should try a little harder to help these kids before they feel so cornered that they turn into monsters.” ― Aaron B. Powell

“These kids spend a majority of their time in school, and if they’re not having a positive experience, they can become depressed. In some cases, they lash out, grabbing whatever weapon is available to them. It can be an assault rifle, a knife, a Molotov cocktail, poison, Indian burns or MMA. But if you take one weapon away, these kids are just going to grab the next thing available to them. Maybe they will use a gun with a smaller clip, limiting the amount of lives they can take. Or maybe they’ll get more creative, and think of something far more terrible. So taking a weapon away won’t really solve anything, and this is my point here.” ― Aaron B. Powell