Monday, December 29, 2008

Violence in the Modern Era

Are we really moving forward as people? This question came to my mind as I listened to NPR this morning and heard a French commentator stating that people in Europe viewed themselves as more modern, less violent and more solutions oriented than the US population that elected G. Bush twice. The commentator goes on to say that views of the US have changed since the election...But what caught my attention was the statement that equated modernity with being less violent. Usually modernity is equated with inventions, gadgets, or new customs. Usually those inventions are connected or become connected to violence--bigger bombs, automatic weapons systems. But equating modernity with something older, something I imagine mankind has wanted all along--peace, is truely interesting. But are we living in that sort of modern era?

The existence of a number of devastating conflicts occurring around the world--Israel’s recent attack of Palestine, Pakistan's set up of troops along the Pakistani-Indian border, the ongoing crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe...answers this question.

Is less violence really the same as more modern i.e. more advanced? This sounds logical and compelling. How do we create this more modern world? We definitely aren't already living in it.

never narrow minded,
Alegna