Children and the seeds of violence THE EDITOR, Sir: IN THE wake of violence in Kingston, let us never underestimate the power of example. Violence begets violence; violent people are usually not born but bred. From early childhood, children who witness violence, are the victims of violence and children who are surrounded by violence can inherit the tendencies needed to become violent people. Combine the example of a violent adult with the right ingredients such as poverty, lack of formal or home education, social injustice, a vague knowledge of religious truths, an absence of any real religious practice, a void of spiritual values, lack of parental affection and the child is only lucky to avert the damage done to his psyche. While adults shoot it out, the latent violent potential in children is in the training room right now, waiting for the opportunity, the right circumstances for it to erupt. Adults are fighting it out in the street, not realising that they help to create the future criminals. Armed with only a loose sense of right and wrong, no fear of authority, children grow up existentially where there is no yesterday, no tomorrow; there is only now. They will make the most ferocious criminals. Prevention is better than cure. Let us never underestimate the power of example. I am, etc., A. M. ANSARI STOP Corporal Punishment in Schools STOP1998@aol.com
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