Written by

K. A. Owens
Special to The Courier-Journal

We need to build a non-violent city, a non-violent country and a non-violent world. Violence is a part of the world we live in. The reasons for violence are various greed, anger, lust for things that one cannot have, or, as a response to personal insult. The powers that be also use violence to oppress subject peoples. The powers that be use violence to maintain economic and political hegemony. We must not forget that, unfortunately, people who have been victimized by violence, who have suffered from it, may have a tendency to believe that, in the end, violence will turn out to be the most useful tool to resolve any issues they have with each other or with a cruel and unjust world. We also must not forget that there are forms of violence beyond physical. Lets be honest. What hurts worse a punch in the stomach or never being allowed to live up to your economic and political potential? What hurts worse a punch in the jaw, or knowing with a certainty that no matter how well-qualified you are for the job, that you dont have the political connections or the right relationships to get the job? What hurts worse being knocked down, or knowing that your children will do less well than you economically for reasons that have nothing to do with their character?

I dont know about you, but I would rather be hit, Id rather be stabbed, Id rather be shot than to be denied the opportunity to use the abilities I have, or to see others denied the opportunity to use their abilities. Wouldnt you? Wouldnt you? Violence and crime? Crime is going up in Greece. Why? Austerity. Layoffs. No future whatsoever for even educated young people. People in Greece are frustrated and this frustration is resulting in violence and political extremism. The Arab Spring occurred because the so-called dictators actually did educate their young people, but neglected to design an economy that provided jobs, careers and a future for those same young people. This has resulted in chaos and violence Lets take a look at South Africa. Is there violence in South Africa? Yes. Why? One reason is that when the African National Congress took over after Nelson Mandela was released from prison, they left the keys to the economic kingdom in the hands of the same people who had been oppressing them for 200 years. Only a very few black South Africans have received any massive economic benefits from the end of apartheid. Now, is poverty an excuse for violence? No. Of course not. Is lack of opportunity an excuse for violence? No. Of course not. Just the same as being verbally insulted is not an excuse for violence. Just the same as catching ones spouse in an extramarital affair is not an excuse for violence. There are no excuses. But there are explanations, of a sort. We need to make the explanations obsolete. Unless and until we do that, violence itself will never become obsolete. All of us know in our hearts that we must make demands upon ourselves, our families, our friends, and our governments. We must demand opportunity, we must demand justice. We cant eliminate violence until we implement opportunity and justice. Again, we cant eliminate violence until we implement opportunity and justice. When we implement opportunity and justice we will be almost all the way home. Community activist K.A. Owens delivered these remarks at the Building A NonViolent City Prayer Vigil held at Shawnee Presbyterian Church. The event was sponsored by the church, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Sowers of Justice Network, Jewish Voice For Peace, and Crescent Hill Baptist Church.