The rise in domestic violence and over all violence in our society raises questions of how to tackle prevention.
Social values are ambiguous guidelines that determine our social behaviour. The things we collectively value will affect the way we live.
For example, young minds continually exposed to violent video games are susceptible to developing a mindset that it feels good to win every fight and the cost imposed on others is irrelevant. Being strong and utilising one’s strength is what matters.
Take a look at how the media portrays people.
Which strengths of character are promoted and which are rarely talked about? There are two values that you’re not likely to hear: gentleness and meekness. Even the sound of those words is enough to make a grown man cringe. But what do they actually mean?
Although weakness and meekness may look and sound similar they are not the same. Weakness entails a lack of strength or courage. Meekness is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness. Meekness and gentleness come from a conscious choice.
The original Greek word for meek was used to describe a beast that had been tamed. A wild horse and a tame horse both have the same strength. The wild horse is of little use to anyone, however, the tame horse can be trusted carry children on it’s back or gently take food from their hands. There is great strength behind the gentleness.
Do we want to be a society where the strong conquer and the weak lose? If not, we have to consider the values we promote to our children. We need to teach them that it’s not spineless to be gentle so that we counteract the onslaught of messages that would tell them otherwise. Perhaps we might just put a dent in the rise of violent crime.
