Christmas Aftermath

Eventful day. Visited a friend of here in Charlotte. During the visit, were heard yelling across the street at a neighbor's home. At first, we thought someone was sick and we went outside to offer assistance. But it became obvious that it was an emotional argument and likely an episode of domestic altercation. Inside, we called the police and prayed while we waited. From the screaming, I was terrified that someone would be killed before the police arrived. The firetruck and the ambulance arrived before 4 police cars. They were in the house for a while before bringing out a woman in severe pain with a suspected broken femur. The police said the story was that she fell. How a young woman falls hard enough to break her femur is beyond me. I was sick, nauseous, and tearful on the drive back home. Someone could have very easily been killed in that argument.  

From a professional perspective, I know that the day after any major holiday is fraught with escalation in violence. But on a personal, spiritual level I had a moment of despair. Things seem to be getting worse. Random acts of violence and violence directed at close family and intimate partners feel widespread. More importantly, how can we change things such that a disagreement, an argument, or anger/hate/resentment does not turn into an act of violence that ends someone's life? It seems impossible in a world where people find it acceptable to use violence to terrorize or kill others.

With all this energy/frustration I took the puppy of a 3.5 walk/run and really nailed down my colored belt poomsaes until I was sweaty and exhausted.

Throughout life and particularly with Tae Kwon Do, I have learned to direct excess energy labeled as anger/frustration/despair to a more productive outlet. Not that I was physically violent before, but I certainly had some violent energy. It seems counter intuitive, but Tae Kwon Do has made me a more non-violent person. 

Maybe the overall answer for our violent society involves non-violence training, personal self defense training, and interpersonal relationship education. Such an effort would have to be community wide from the home to the school to places of worship and within the media/entertainment industry. If we can make efforts for a smoke free generation or a cavity free generation, we could similarly make efforts for a violence free generation. Violence is a society wide problem and it will take a society wide effort to change it.

Meanwhile, I try to keep the faith and keep working toward the goal in my little part of the world.