The leader of a conservative think tank claims that most recent political violence in the U.S. has been caused by left-wing extremists, but the data paints a different picture.
Right-wing extremists were just as likely to commit violent acts as those motivated by Islamic extremism, the researchers found. Left-wing extremists were a distant third.
I can’t speak for every leftist, but I don’t think anything can really be accomplished through individual, random acts of violence. Then again, I don’t really think very much of anything can be accomplished through any means, really. I’ve come to see hope as futile and change as impossible. But, I do think acts of violence are especially futile. Plus, I don’t really want to hurt anyone, even people I don’t like very much.
I can’t speak for every leftist, but I don’t think anything can really be accomplished through individual, random acts of violence. Then again, I don’t really think very much of anything can be accomplished through any means, really. I’ve come to see hope as futile and change as impossible. But, I do think acts of violence are especially futile. Plus, I don’t really want to hurt anyone, even people I don’t like very much.
Several things can be accomplished: instilling fear, forcing disproportionate responses, provide thinly veiled excuses for… well, almost anything.
It’s just that there’s nothing positive that can be accomplished that way.
Lasting change only comes with compassion and understanding. Violence does not create either of those.