Violence

In this meetup we will talk about violence and the many forms and facettes it comes in.

We will reflect on how often we encounter, endure and maybe also exert violence in our daily lives. Is it possible to see a pattern when, by whom and against whom it is happening? What are the worst forms of violence? Are there instances in which it is unavoidable? If so, how can best deal with them?

Let's look at these and other questions on the the topic together.

If you've never participated before, here's what to expect:

• 2 hours of deep, interesting conversations in a respectful environment that will elevate your spirit and give you new ideas for life, work or relationships.
• a supportive group of people sharing their own unique experiences and viewpoints, and encouraging you to do the same.
• a rich mix of newcomers and regulars from different countries and cultures for a broad diversity of opinions and experiences.

In order to cover the room expenses we will ask for a voluntary contribution from every participant.

For some inspiration on the topic, you can look out these quotes:

• "When language fails, violence becomes a language; I never had that feeling." - Elie Wiesel
• "Violence is the language of the unheard." - Martin Luther King III
• "Nothing good ever comes of violence." -
  Martin Luther
• "Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely, the other is absent. Violence appears where power is in jeopardy, but left to its own course it ends in power's disappearance." - Hannah Arendt
• "Democracy don't rule the world, You'd better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that's better left unsaid." - Bob Dylan
• "Violence is both unavoidable and unjustifiable." - Albert Camus
• "Where choice is set between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence ... I prefer to use arms in defense of honor rather than remain the vile witness of dishonor..." - Mahatma Ghandi
• It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. Violence is any day preferable to impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." - Mahatma Ghandi
• Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
• All violence is the result of people tricking themselves into believing that their pain derives from other people and that consequently those people deserve to be punished." - Michael B. Rosenberg
• "To practice the process of conflict resolution, we must completely abandon the goal of getting people to do what we want." - Michael B. Rosenberg