What does our future hold?

What can we as a society do to change this cycle of violence?

 

In our society where babies are raped and our grandparents are bludgeoned to death, we live in fear of violent criminals. Even outside of the suburbs, township residents live in fear of these same violent criminals. Yet, if one of these criminals were to be caught by the community, the street justice meted out is as brutal as the methods employed by these criminals. Calls are made for the re-introduction of the death penalty, but is that the most viable option?

If we are to change the culture of violence, is the solution, more brutal methods of justice?

Or do we, as South Africans, need to change our attitudes towards violence and determine another course of history by providing new options? Perhaps we need to look at ourselves and accept a certain amount of responsibility for the current level of violence?

How can we as a community accept responsibility and at the same time define what that responsibility is?

We are responsible if we do nothing. We are responsible if we believe that the simple re-introduction of the death penalty might be sufficient. We are responsible if we can ignore the injustices amongst the poor and impoverished. We are responsible if we believe that by enforcing the law in the suburbs only and not in poorer areas will prevent the violence, in fact we are idiots if we think that having a laager mentality will protect us from violent behaviour.

The attempt to change the culture of resorting to violence needs to be accomplished on various levels and the drive to stop the violence needs to come from all cultures and people groupings.

Attempts by the government to crack down on crime should be coupled with efforts within the impoverished communities to combat poverty, AIDS and homelessness and joblessness. Focus also on underlying problems such as learnt helplessness. Other areas that could be addressed include the lawlessness with the prison community. Rehabilitation of prisoners will not be achieved if the violence within the prison walls continues.

Changing the cycle of violence goes a lot deeper than outward changes. There needs to be an inner transformation in the hearts and minds of the members of my (our) community. Attitudes towards crime and violence need to change. The government needs to recognise the effects of violence on the general population and approach social services and social welfare organizations to assist in the counselling of trauma victims. It has been shown that where victims have received counselling and therapy and have gone on to being a survivor instead of a victim, they have been proactive in working against eradicating violence or assisting other victims of violence. The education and empowerment of all members of society as to the effects of violence on society could go a long way to changing attitudes and may bring down the unacceptably high levels of violence.

There is no short cut to changing the cycle of violence in our community, but by developing a programme adopted by all governmental, NGO’s and social welfare groups that looks at all aspects which contribute to violence and then to work towards healing amongst victims we might have a chance.

     - Philip Stoneman