New year, but same old violence
- By Brad Franklin
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 2, 2014
If there is one constant in this world, it is the New Year's wish that the coming year will bring peace. While it's true that decades have now passed since the last world war and that peace does prevail in some countries, including mine, it also seems that there are an increasing number of crazy groups and individuals dedicated to the proposition that, for one reason or another, someone else needs to be killed. The individuals shoot up a school, while the groups tend to favor bombs. But either way, they kill and maim others, even though they know that in the civilized parts of the world, they will be considered pariahs and hunted down.
I've been around for a long time, but I still don't understand the mentality that says, "I don't agree with you, therefore it's alright if I kill you." If you and I disagree about something, we have two choices in a civilized society. We can agree to disagree and remain friends, or we can disagree and go our separate ways. Violence is not necessary, so I must conclude that for some people, any excuse for violence is somehow welcome. That's what I don't understand.
In the United States, there is a new game spreading through the Internet called Knockout Punch. The object of the game is to try to knock out an unsuspecting stranger with a single punch. So you can be walking down the street in an American city, minding your own business, when out of nowhere a stranger walks up to you and launches a vicious and unwarranted punch at you just to see if he can knock you out.
Some people think this game is fun. In such an atmosphere, is it any wonder that some people feel that it is alright to shoot and bomb others?
I wish all my readers a happy, prosperous and, most of all, a peaceful New Year. I hope you can walk down the street, even at night, and feel safe, that no one will assault you. I hope that in 2014 we will not be burdened with more stories of shootings and bombings. This is my wish for you, but just in case, keep looking over your shoulder. You can call me a cynic, but I have little faith that my wish will be granted.
Brad Franklin is a former political reporter, newscaster and federal government employee in Canada. He is a regular columnist for China's English Salon magazine and lives on Vancouver Island.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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