I agree totally.
An unformed thought, badly presented, but maybe worth considering:
The issue becomes, to what extent, if any, is society responsible for creating an environment in which people believe that their ideas can be heard and seriously considered? It appears to me that certain ideas are at various times dismissed (often with scorn) by the "leaders and thinkers", whoever they may consist of, in society. Assuming that happens, does society bear at least a portion of the responsibility when the person who cannot get a fair consideration of their views?
While I personally reject the concept that people of certain races or religious beliefs are inferior or even "mud people," some people do hold those views. If I am unwilling to listen to and try to reason with them, but instead treat them with scorn and derision and rejection, and most other members of society and government follow the same course, are we contributing to those persons' decision to resort to violence? It's easy to reject this idea when the result is an Oklahoma City bombing or a shooting in a McDonald's. But what about when college students trashed Presidents' offices in the 60s, or the violence at the Democratic National Convention in Chicato, or such?
I do feel that our society is becoming less tolerant of diverse views. If this is true, and if the theory which E and you are putting forward is true, we are in for more, not less, violence. |
