Well, both, clearly. Violence is bad. Unless it's in a ring and strictly for sport, then it's seen as slightly less disgusting and may even gain a "bad ass" edge. But otherwise, violence, personal or political, is just... bad. It's dangerous to all parties involved, it hurts, and it doesn't achieve anything. Of course, under extreme circumstances, and I do say extreme, someone snaps. But even then, it's never justified unless it's in self-defence, and it's always a shameful display: the common understanding is that you should have been smart enough, civil enough, to defuse the situation without getting physical.
It's dangerous to all parties involved, it hurts, and it doesn't achieve anything.
This just isn't true. Violence achieves all sorts of things. (I would also dispute "dangerous to all parties involved".)
But even then, it's never justified unless it's in self-defence
This isn't true either (but at least is somewhat subjective).
, and it's always a shameful display: the common understanding is that you should have been smart enough, civil enough, to defuse the situation without getting physical.
Also false. I disprove of narrow-minded overge...
I have found this most wonderful (if fairly lengthy) article, and thought you would enjoy having it brought to your attention.
It is so good, I think we should include it among the references in the "Politics is the Mind Killer" wiki page. But, before that, I submit it to you, and ask you: is there anything in this article that would warrant its exclusion from this site? I mean, besides the fact that it is about politics, and written by a notorious Social-democrat (And is that in itself grounds for exclusion?).