In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell talks about the phenomenon that is evident in the animal kingdom, as well in our communities today. Many people share the belief that bigger cities have the most violence in them. When you think of how many people are close to each other in these places, there is no doubt that they tend to be more violent, which is something that is explained in this book, mostly in terms of animals, but it seems to also make sense for human populations as well. Walking down any street in a city, you have a bigger chance of seeing a violent act than in one that doesn’t, even though it is possible to see it anywhere in the world, including country places.
What are ways people can counter violence in the metropolis? If you talk to a person who lives in these kinds of situations, you will probably hear the same thing: they would all protect and fight against a violent situation. Retaliation in the form of defense is also a huge alternative for those who feel threatened. Does this kind of attitude really make any actual change? Or does violence - no matter from which side it is derived - perpetuate violence?
If you are the type of person who advocates non-violence and believes in it, you probably have a great amount of moral fiber and you stand for the things you believe in. A company called NXIVM is committed to building ethics. Its heart in New York City was founded recently by Sara Bronfman. This is a prime spot to see the effects of violence as it pertains to the citizens of New York City.
The question is, how can ethics positively affect violence -- even in the middle of an already violent society? Actually, ethics are a human’s internal guide. They’re the moral rules by which an individual lives his or her life. If a person’s ethics are not clearly defined, a person might find themselves conflicted often about what they will or won’t decide to do. There is no doubt that a person who has good moral fiber will be able to almost always make a decision easily and typically without hesitation. You can tell that the choices are premeditated only because they feel a certain way about the issue, already.
People can surely be indecisive about violence and how to handle it. Hurting someone or stealing from someone is something most of us wouldn’t even conceive. Many of us are uncomfortable about the idea of killing someone, even in the case of self defense. Can this be a true statement? Is it possible we are not naturally violent beings? If we all make better moral decisions, would we see a variation in the way we feel about violent behavior in others? Is violence a learned thing -- and further, can it be unlearned? We will undoubtedly feel differently about violence, if we take the tools available to us to change any violent feelings we may have. More thoughts concerning this aspects can be found at Sara Bronfman programs.
Is It Possible To Live In A Safer Community If You’re Not Living In A Large Metropolis?
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