Is violence necessary?

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday May 10, 2002 19:06 by shane

is violence necessary?

i open this discussion with an open mind, and i ask is violence necessary for any REAL change, and i must emphasize not reformist, conservative change, but actual and thorough change in our circumstances as citizens of an unjust world. it looks like the gardai will be held accountable for what happened on monday. but if they had not brutalised the protestors would this have happened?
on the other side of the coin, should we use violence to achieve our aims? i was sickened by the pictures of robocop corcoran mauling kids who held up the peace sign. that says it all really doesnt it, the baton is always stronger than peace. i put it to you all that peaceful protests are all good and well, but when it comes down to it violence wins out in every situation. anyway the majority of protestors belonged to left-wing groups, many of whom preach worldwide revolution. how is this to be achieved, by asking nicely for justice........with a cherry on top?