The Definition of Violence and Non Violence

To be quite honest, before I entered the classroom on the first day I had my doubt on how well I would actually like this class as well as even agree with most of the discussions seeing as this class is mostly about how peace and nonviolent methods can be used to solve problems and create a safer environment. I'm not going to say I personally am a violent person, nor do I have violent tendencies more than the next person I would just say I have a hard time believing that peaceful solutions can be brought around to actually work over lets say war or something along those lines. This could be due to the fact that I myself am a member of the United States Army or it could be my upbringing. Yes I am from this rural town of Huntingdon that you all are beginning to know so well whether you hate it or love it and lets just say things aren't usually solved in a peaceful way around here. Generally there are fights and arguments over such things as land disputes, laws that are passed and other things and us being more of a rural, farming and blue collar community we tend to get very angry about subjects that affect us and peaceful measures generally aren't taken. Maybe its the "redneck" and "rough and tough" mentality that we have been brought up with or whatever or maybe it's just that we haven't been brought up lets say in a city type environment where we are more exposed to all kinds of situations and methods of solving problems but it just doesn't seem to happen that way and I believe that this might be the cause of my beliefs on how problems should be solved. Be that as it may I am hoping that this class will bring a new life and way of seeing thats that I've never seen or been shown before. I would much rather solve my problems in a way thats acceptable to both party's rather than just taking up arms so to speak as I normally would do and get what I want no matter who gets hurt or upset.

As far as the definition of violence and nonviolence goes, I personally believe that it is all in the eye of the beholder to what they really perceive as what is violent. In almost every single situation that someone may come across, depending on what happens and what is done or said, anyone could take either side. It all depends on the type of person and who they are to choose a side and see things as they personally see it. For example, lets say someone does something to another person, for one reason or another, I personally may believe that it was not a "violent" thing to do but another person may think otherwise. As I said before it is all in the eye of the beholder. If someone doesn't agree with how things are done or said, then they will have a negative perspective on the subject but the next person you ask may think it was the proper decision to do what they did. Because of this, I can't possibly see how someone could find a clean and cut "definition" to what is violent or not because everyone has their own perspective on the situation which is why it is so hard for people to come in agreement on the subject.