Acting on violence

I started this post a long time ago, I’ve just never finished it. I started writing this as a response to some feelings I was having. Something happened and I wanted to lash out and unleash violence upon someone who wronged me. I’m human and this has happened to me many times over during my lifetime, but as far as I can remember, I have never acted on that desire of violence.

With the recent Oscars situation revolving around Will Smith and Chris Rock, I realized that any of us can succumb to those instincts in the blink of an eye. I’ve never acted on any violent desire, but I do recognize that a solid punch to the face can and often does shut someone up.

I like to think that I’m not a violent person. My actions have never been in line with what one could consider a violent person. However, I would be disingenuous if I didn’t admit that at times I do have the desire to respond with violence. Especially when I see an injustice against someone who cannot fend for themselves.

I don’t think this makes me a bad or inherently violent person, just human. I believe that we can all have violent thoughts or the desire to inflict great violence against evil doers and those we think it deserve it. But the key is whether or not you act on it. That’s what separates a person like me from an actual violent person.

I don’t think Will Smith is violent. I don’t know him in private, but he doesn’t strike me as a violent natured person. He has unresolved issues like we all do and he had a very bad public moment. I mean he messed up pretty bad in the worse possible place and time. He’s since then apologized and I’m still a fan. I’ll continue to be fan and I do hope that he and Chris Rock can work this out for real. I think the level of public disrespect that was displayed is a tough one for any friendship to overcome, but I really do hope they work it out behind the scenes.

Think on this, you and I are just one bad moment away from slapping someone on the mouth. We are only human, so keep that in mind as you judge.