When I was growing up in India, non-violence was considered the highest virtue. In fact, my grandfather was a strong supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, and an advocate of non-violence to bring about social and political change. Modern society also has prominent icons of non-violence such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Lech Wałęsa. Yet today, basic human values are being eroded, resulting in violence and aggression.
The high incidence of violence in the society is appalling, whether at the domestic or societal level. Aggression has become an integral part even in the lives of children. In the United States, violence in school and college campuses is on the rise. In classrooms, aggressive children are sometimes considered heroes. If children lose their temper, they feel it is normal and even take pride in it. Many of them grow up thinking that they will have their say if they are aggressive. Bullying incidents are often seen and reported by the media. Strength and dignity lie in peace and cooperation, however these qualities go unnoticed.
