Violence is not power

The world has transformed into a frightening place, as men fight men, wreaking violence upon one another. Violence has always been a keyword in the past, but the violence one witnesses today is nerve-wracking, as men seem to have lost their reason, committing heinous crimes against those weaker than themselves, especially women and children.

Many statesmen and world leaders have advocated against the use of violence.

 "Violence is unnecessary and costly. Peace is the only way."
Julius K Nyerere

"Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."
Martin Luther King Jr. 

Men of letters have also condemned violence in the strongest language possible.

"Violence, even well-intentioned, always rebounds on oneself."
Lao Tzu

"Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another."
Arthur Conan Doyle - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

"Violence is not power, but the absence of power."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Violence does not always take visible form, and not all wounds gush blood."
Haruki Murakami

As readers, we have seen violence in art, literature and drama, as villains fight heroes, and the vast saga of life continues, till good overcomes evil. However, the reverse happens as well, at times, leaving us in despondency and depression.

"Violence commands both literature and life, and violence is always crude and distorted."
Ellen Glasgow

Over the years, people have blamed films and television for having distorted the ideas of violence and aggression in the minds of the viewers. Issues like eve-teasing, rape, marital violence and even murder are shown with impunity, and the visual media is criticised for forcing violence out of the living rooms to actual venues outside, where crimes are duplicated. However, is it actually the fault of filmmakers and writers who only bring on to screen what they see in real life? Or does the onus lie on bad upbringing and disrespect?

"Watching violence in movies or in TV programs stimulates the spectators to imitate what they see much more than if seen live or on TV news. In movies, violence is filmed with perfect illumination, spectacular scenery, and in slow motion, making it even romantic. However, on the news, the public has a much better perception of how horrible violence can be, and it is used with objectives that do not exist in the movies."   
Steven Spielberg - Interview;Vega- 1993 

I do agree with the above quote, except where Spielberg hints that violence can ever be romantic in any way. That kind of thinking can be very dangerous, especially when it is followed by young men who believe it to be the truth, and act accordingly, as in our movies.