There is a lot of finger-pointing going on right now. On the right, VP Vance and others, accuse the left of fostering violence and being composed of violent extremists. The Department of Justice website removes a study indicating that politically motivated violence more often comes from right-wing extremists. Democrats decry violence from the right. President Trump is trying to outlaw ANTIFA, which is an ideology, not an organization with members. The truth is that in America, there is more than enough violence to go around.
Our country has more guns than people. Yes, the number of civilian-owned firearms surpasses America’s population. This does not make me feel more secure.
Violence is part of the fabric of America. Our country was founded through violent revolution and the land was taken violently from the native population. Our early economy was built through the violent system of slavery. We need to acknowledge our past and work for a better future.
Our American military projects power abroad through violence. Invading countries for regime change, drone attacks, targeted bombings, supplying sophisticated weapons to allies and surrogates, and recently, blowing up boats of purported drug smugglers.
Domestically, our president sends troops to occupy cities in a blatant show of force to intimidate the populace and win political points from his supporters. This purely performative safety does not make anyone safer. Crime rates are at recent historic lows in the cities where Trump has deployed troops.
Recent political violence provides a pretext for the current administration to silence political opponents and squelch free speech. Corporate Media is willing to bow to FCC pressure to cancel opposition voices in order to get FCC approval for further monopolistic media consolidation. Corporations show that they prioritize money over constitutional free speech.
Violence is an American scourge that our nation fails to address. Given the sheer number of citizens with guns and the gun lobby pouring funds into politicians’ coffers, sensible measures to curb gun violence appear to be out of reach.
Violence, perpetrating violence, and intimidating others are gross transgressions of human rights and violate my humanist values of affirming the worth and dignity of everyone.
Felix Adler, the founder of Ethical Culture, believed that we are all deeply connected to each other. Violence against anyone effects all of us. Violence is the supreme negation of human worth. Violence does not solve problems.
Gandhi believed that the ends and the means are inseparable. Pursuing a goal through corrupt means inevitably corrupts the ends. Using violence to achieve peace cannot work. Violence only leads to more violence.
I oppose violence in all its forms for any reason. I realize that this view is not held by most people in Ethical Culture and that is all right. Ethical Culture is not creedal or dogmatic. We do not need to agree with each other on everything. Each person’s individual ethical discernment may lead to different conclusions and must be respected.
To support my humanist values, I can vote for change. I can vote for those who view peace as a real alternative to violence. I can support a future where human rights and freedoms are placed above corporate greed.
I will work on my relations with others to cultivate compassion and caring.
Together we can work toward a better world. It seems impossibly far away but I will begin by taking small steps toward peace.
Yours in Ethical Community,
Randy Best, Leader
Northern Virginia Ethical Society
