Violence is not the Way.

I don’t talk about things a lot. By things, I mean the general sense of things in our life. That’s one of the many reasons this journal has seen less use than was originally intended. With the current political climate in our world, I feel there’s one small point I’d like to ‘talk about.’

For contextual purposes let explain that one of the hot buttons going on in America right now, is a video of a drunk ignorant White Man spouting the N-word and other hate speech at a Black Man. So many things are wrong about this video, from the Clerk who doesn’t try to de-escalate or call the police to do so, to the people who all stand around doing nothing. Eventually the Black Man lays his things on the counter, looks around for a weapon and picks up a Twisted Tea can which he uses as a weapon to physically attack the White Man with. The video starts after the confrontation begins, so we don’t know what started the confrontation.

So many people are weighing in, with so many opinions on this and the thing that is bugging me is the people who are not only condoning the violence but applauding it. Even lauding it and saying it’s about time.

Look, everyone has their breaking point. Every single person. Even me. Recently, I had a former co-worker who shall remain nameless, go out of his way to attack me, my son and several other co-workers. He sent texts, he called and left voicemails, he went on our work’s messaging programs. If he had said any of those things in person, to my face, I would have hit him. At least once. He’d be lucky if it was with an unopened twisted tea too.

Just because I would have met my breaking point, doesn’t mean I should. I’d have been ashamed of myself pretty quickly. Not because of my own personal big lofty morals, but because I don’t want to teach my son that violence is the answer.

Sometimes violence is the last answer we have left, but that’s when it’s okay to make that choice. When every other choice is exhausted.