The Self-Replicating Cycle of Violence

 There are no words in any language that I even have a remote concept of that describe my feelings toward what happened in the United States yesterday.

I have no doubts that any onlookers would view the nation as violent. They fought and killed each other in civil conflicts, gained their independence through war, and have no issue with absolutely obliterating civilian targets when they see fit [referencing Dresden, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and multiple locations in the Middle East]. Fearing such a violent cycle will end, there are some millions who would keep guns, hate, and anger being traded among the population like some bizarre commodity until the nation finally implodes.

Yesterday two young African American men were killed by police officers. Philando Castile was killed during a routine traffic stop, shot when he was reaching for his wallet to provide the agitated officer with proof of ownership, insurance, and his concealed-carry gun licence. Alton Sterling - who was armed at the time - was tackled to the ground by one officer and, while attempting to restrain and I assume handcuff him, the officer's partner pulled out his firearm and threatened to fire eventually pulling the trigger. There is video online about both incidents but I will not post the links. Generally speaking I would let the law decide for itself but there was clear malicious intent in both cases by the officers involved so anything less than a manslaughter charge and immediate dismissal would be absolutely shocking.

Of course, protests followed... and people were ready. Standing on rooftops and on the ground were multiple shooters - between 3 and 5 depending on reports - who opened fire on officers who were containing the peaceful protest. Five officers are confirmed dead including recently married Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer Brent Thompson (43) and another half-dozen are injured and/or in surgery.

In all the insanity I can only wonder what kind of stupidity led to all this but then it hit me... Violence only begets violence. War doesn't end by the signing of a document. War ends when the people have all but wiped themselves out OR have taken it upon themselves to end the conflict.

This hasn't happened in the USA and will continue not to happen out of 3 key psychological disturbances: Trepidation, Pride, and Hate. I did not put Anger because anger is a legitimate response to a wrongdoing that can be controlled while the other three have a nasty habit of becoming malignant.

Trepidation is defined as "a fear or agitation that something may happen" and is exactly what I see in the context of both the shootings as officers were prepared to engage long before the young men gave them reason to. Trepidation is a function of anxiety often fueled by a previous trauma, either directly or vicariously (such as hearing about it on the news), and in situations that are similar in structure to the one playing out in the individual's mind they will prepare.

Pride is defined as "the sense of satisfaction that one feels from one's own achievements" and is a good sense to have at some times. What the dictionary fails to add is that pride can also be taken to the level of self-indulgence and self-exaggeration. This happens to people who have made something of themselves and expect others to fall in line and wind up playing the victim. Pride makes us put others down for our own satisfaction - something both officers and civilians are more than guilty of. Don Lemon, CNN Tonight host, has been using his status since the Treyvon Martin shooting (2012) to antagonize police and assist in the oppression of American minorities by victimizing and defaming whomever he can when a story comes up. Apparently there are many in the African American community calling for CNN to fire him especially after yesterday's Twitter and televised remarks about complying with police.

Hate is a "feeling of intense disgust and dislike for" another person/community/race/religion/etc. but is the least dangerous of the three. Hate is something we control and feed ourselves by simply allowing it to exist. It is a conscious effort compared to the other two. Those who have a history of criminal activity hate the legal system and consciously plot ways to see it brought down a notch. It allows us to promote an ideology that suppresses and undermines the legitimacy of the other and is stronger than racism, sexism, or homophobia because of its self-promotion. Hate is what coordinated the attacks against these innocent officers. I read comments on Facebook where people of all ethnicities are saying that all of the officers in Dallas should be killed and, from the other side, how the protesters should be killed. NO ONE DESERVES DEATH. Probably letting my anti-capital punishment flag fly a bit but no human being is in a position to take the life of another unless under specific circumstances and none of those circumstances appeared in the deaths of the officers, Mr. Castile, or Mr. Sterling.

Kinda reminds me of Yoda in Star Wars saying, "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering," and the Star Wars geek in me cannot help but agree that once on the path of the Dark Side, forever will it rule your destiny.

We see these kind of violent paths taken in the home, as well. One person feels as though they deserve more of something than they are receiving, possibly envious of the things of others, and attempt to get more. Could be husbands wanting more control in the home, could be children wanting better toys... under the euthanasia legislation and lack of protections within it could be a son or daughter wanting their inheritance. When we start to put ourselves above others we step up to the slippery slope.