Think for a moment about a world without murder, pet mutilators and child kidnappers. Who doesn’t dream of that world, if not for themselves, then for their children, families and friends?We instinctively have strong, often uncontrollable emotions and passions for certain ideas, hobbies or other people, but when do those emotions cross the line?
Michael Vick, an NFL quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, admitted and was convicted on federal conspiracy charges that he funded and participated in a high stakes gambling and interstate dogfighting operation.
Following that conviction, the Sheriff’s department in Phoenix found the remains of three badly beaten pit bulls that had been buried in a home owned by rapper DMX. While no charges have been filed, one can assume that regardless of whoever did this, someone killed these animals.
We have God-given dominion over animals; no one can question or deny that authority. But when did dominion come to require violent acts to prove the power and authority?
Are we only violent on the homefront toward our pets?
No.
Pick up a newspaper and try to find a section that doesn’t talk about a murder, rape or gun-shot victim. Try to find a newscast that runs more than one or two positive segments. It’s nearly impossible.
National newspapers run stories about corruption and disagreements within governmental bodies and violence makes national news daily.
International relations don’t look much brighter. We are right in the middle of a war on terror. If war isn’t good evidence of violence, then I need to study harder because I must be missing something. We are trying to attain dominion by violence and trying to gain authority by war.
The fact is that it isn’t a local, national and or international problem – it is a people problem. It includes local people, national people and international people – no exclusions.
With violence on the front pages of our local newspapers, violence topping our national newscasts and violence unfolding daily in our international relations with other countries, how are we, as citizens, supposed to be non-violent?
We complain about violence and we want it to cease to exist, yet we miss the point that violence begins within us. Without the first punch, the first fighting word or the first shot, violence doesn’t exist.
It begins with us. Emotions are hard to control – that’s often the beauty of them. It can also be a person’s downfall. The next time you feel the urge to punch your friend for stealing your girlfriend or defame a house because you don’t agree with its owners, try to stop yourself.
Strength is shown when one can control his or her own actions and tongue. It isn’t going to be easy, but what’s the harm in trying? You could be the beginning of a less violent world – a world you might one day raise children and grow old in.
Marissa Warms is a senior advertising/public relations major from Irving. Her column appears Fridays.
