violence

Here's an attempt at writing fast (like John does) and not over thinking and analyzing. My brain is already objecting... stupid right side of brain.

So there have definitely been themes of non violence, peace, and activism over the last four months or so. About a month ago Adriahna got to experience it all first hand.

She was with a friend walking to a bus stop in downtown Footscray around 7:00pm on a Friday night. A random girl walked up to them and started yelling at Adriahna. The girl pushed Adriahna and called her a few choice names. (she had never seen this girl before) The girl then punched Ade (Adriahna) in the face. Ade was in a state of shock and her friend Linda was asking what was going on, assuming that she knew this girl. The girl then walked away toward a group of friends and turned around and came back saying she got the wrong girl, apologized to Adriahna and went after Lynda. Lynda handed Adriahna her wallet and was going to have a go at this girl who towered over Adriahna (Lynda, who is Asian, comes up to my chest). Ade stood in the middle of them insisting that it all stop. The girl then snatched the wallet and took off with her friends. Lynda tried to go after the wallet because she had almost $200 in it. Ade stopped Lynda and got her to walk away. They went into a near by shop that Lynda's family owns. The girls told what happened and from behind the counter they proceeded to take out a big metal bar to go after the girls. Adriahna again insisted that it all stop and kept them from going after the girls with their weapons. She then called me and came home. John convinced her and Lynda to file a police report and they did later that night.

She was very shaken up with a bruise on her cheek. She said that the most shocking thing was that there were loads of people around and they didn't do anything. Ade had to keep insisting that her friends from school (she has a lot of them) didn't retaliate the next day. Lynda knew who one of the girls in the group were.

A few days later someone in our broader community gave Ade a note with $100 in it and said it was to help replace what was lost. Ade got to give that $$ to Lynda and show her another way of dealing with the shit things that happen in life with community and love. I was so impressed with Ade and her desire to stay nonviolent, and the fact that the very next day she got up and went about her business as usual. She was shaken up, but was not going to let that stop her. Off she went to school and work in Footscray.

we don't know much, but we know that violence never solved violence. It only perpetuates it. I'm sure part of me wanted her to use her jiu jitsu and choke the girl out, but what's the point and where does that end?


Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.



Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Martin Luther King, Jr.



Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.