There certainly seems to be an increase in violence in the world - or, at least, an increase in visible, reported violence. Mumbai. Baghdad. Israel-Palestine. North Korea. Washington DC (a "crime emergency"). It is sickening.
I want to argue that violence is futile, but I have studied politics too long to know that sometimes violence does secure the goals its perpetrators desire. I'll grant that. But, too often, those who engage in violence do so in wanton and inhumane ways that, ultimately, frustrate their aspirations. It is hard to see how launching rockets into Israel serves the interests of Palestinian people, or how the heavy-handed Israeli response might create a foundation for peaceful coexistence in the future.
In the same manner, the sectarian violence in Iraq (which, I believe the US still bears some responsibility for, since we destroyed the central state apparatus and have not effectively rebuilt a new one...) does nothing but create a self-perpetuating security dilemma: each side believing that retribution is necessary, and each retribution calling forth another and another atrocity, with no prospect for security.
Scanning the headlines today, I feel like Mencius might have felt, long ago in the Warring States period, when violence swirled around him with horrible regularity. And taking the long historical view highlights the futility of violence. What happened to the various contenders for power then? They are largely forgotten to history. Even the mighty Qin, the ultimate victor of those times, could not find a way to preserve its triumph. Qin may be remembered historically - for all the wrong reasons, perhaps - but it persists as a distant reminder of how an excess of violence can undermine both humanity and political survival.
Mencius understood that, long before the supremacy of Qin, and he articulated a powerfully anti-war, anti-violence message:
Mencius said: "Only now have I realized the true gravity of killing a man's family members. If you kill his father, he'll kill your father. If you kill his brother, he'll kill your brother. There's precious little difference between that and killing your father or brother with your own hands. (259)
Mencius said: "Emperor Hui of Liang was utterly inhumane. The Humane extend their love to those they hate. The Inhumane inflict their hatred on those they love."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Kung-sun Ch'ou.
"In his passion for more territory, Emperor Hui sent his people to war, tearing them asunder and suffering disastrous defeats. Soon he wanted to return to the battlefield, but was afraid he couldn't win. So he sent his beloved son to the grave too. This is what I mean by inflicting their hatred on those they love." (257)"You defy Humanity if you cause the death of a single innocent person..." (247).
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