Everywhere we turn, the incidence of violence seems to grow. Reports of violence are everywhere, whether it’s the heartbreaking news of school shootings, domestic abuse cases, the rise of cyberbullying online, hate speech, or life-threatening issues. It’s as if violence has become the air we breathe nowadays. It seems to be the norm that many of us feel powerless to change. Can it change?
Should we start from homes? This is when the problem often starts with the dynamics between family members. Children exposed to verbal or physical abuse are at risk of emulating these behaviors and mistaking them for acceptable methods of interaction. For example, a child who witnesses a parent lashing out in anger may believe that aggression is a legitimate response to conflict. I have seen a man who knelt with his wife outside and was wiping her with a belt in front of the kids. What was he teaching? Just recently, a man was apprehended for setting his wife ablaze with petrol, a wife, who bore three kids for him. Such a bad news!
What about Schools? The school system has become a battleground for violence. Bullying has reached higher levels, fueled by social media palava. The tragic incidents of school shootings can emerge from a culture of violence, where young lives are cut short and communities are left to grieve. So many future generations have lost their souls as a result of violence. A lady was raped to death during my 100 kevel days at the university all because she was not given attention to relationships and they killed her. Violence!
Social media amplifies these problems, presenting a platform where violent behavior can thrive unchallenged. It is as if technology promotes violence this day than it was before 🤔The glorification of violence in movies, video games, and endless online debates are ways to sensitize us to shun violence. Platforms designed for connection are becoming a platform for hate, negativity, and, ultimately, violence. When violent acts are portrayed as heroic or justified online, we risk cultivating a society that normalizes aggression rather than condemns it.
However, the roots of violence run deep, but as individuals, parents, educators, and community members, we hold the power to change the narrative. By nurturing a culture of understanding, compassion, and open dialogue, we can work to eradicate violence from our society one generation at a time. It begins with us raising children who learn to shun violence and opt for kindness, thereby sowing the seeds for a more peaceful future.
To combat this growing challenge, we must start by playing a pivotal role in shaping the values and behaviors of our children right from a young age. Teaching children the importance of respect, conflict resolution, and kindness is essential in dismantling the cycle of violence. It’s crucial to create an environment where open dialogue is encouraged, where feelings can be expressed without fear of being judged or after speech prosecution.
Also, Programs that educate parents on non-violent conflict resolution can be life-changing. Such training equips parents to model and teach positive behavior to their children. Schools must prioritize anti-bullying initiatives and teach social-emotional learning to help students understand the impact of their actions on others without resulting in violence. Social media platforms must take greater responsibility for curbing violent content and providing users with the tools to report violence.
This is my response to the #hivelearners weekly edition on the topic of VIOLENCE.
The Image is sourced.
Thank you for stopping💕