A 73-year-old
neo-Nazi shot and killed three people at two Kansas City Jewish centres on
Sunday. The shooting rampage was officially classified a "hate
crime" today by authorities.
This is a clear
conflict of religion ‘Conflict is a
process that begins when one party perceives that another party has negatively
affected, or is about to negatively affect, something the first party cares
about’ Huczynski & Buchanan (2010:661). It is sad
that these radical measures of extreme conflict still occur. Jewish people have
endured centuries of discrimination, abuse, and genocide. Forcing different religions
or races to change through violence should be a thing of the past now.
However, conflict
does not need to be disruptive and unnatural, conflict can be a force for
change; people need to fight against this anti-Semitism and become more
tolerant and welcoming of other religions. The fact that this attack has happened is even
more reason for people to show how conflict can be an energising force in society!
Showing support for those innocent Jewish people who have been unfairly
attacked can be an agent for evolution and an agent for change.
Obama stated today
that:
“Nobody should have to worry about their security when gathering with their fellow believers, no one should ever have to fear for their safety when they go to pray.”
Obama is supporting
the fact that this conflict should support a campaign to stop violence and
racism, and induce other positive outcomes such as a search for new approaches
to reduce prejudice, discrimination and hate crimes.
A Unitarist views conflict as inharmonious, at the
minute for those families of the victims this conflict will be harmful and
damaging. However, it is important to remember that conflict is inevitable it
is a necessary force to push change and innovation. The fact that these
killings have occurred will be a motivating energy to deal with the fact that
anti-Semitism still has not been stopped and racism and discrimination still
happens.
The graph below shows the extreme extent in which
Jewish people receive hate crimes. Mostly vandalism, such as Nazi-inspired
graffiti or destruction of cemetery headstones.
Jewish people have been victims of hate and genocide for
years and the shooting in Kansas is an example which has made world wild
publicity; hopefully from this people can realise that this conflict is not
right and will fight for change.
What is your view on conflict? Please comment your opinion.
Hi Nikita, those statistics are shocking, it is horrible to think that hate crimes like that still occur in this day and age. I have never looked at conflict in that way, I have always viewed it as being a de-constructive force which should be avoided. Although I still think that conflict should be avoided I can see that it can cause for change and I hope that people will see what's happened and become more tolerant of other ethnicity's.
ReplyDeleteHello, thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog. I can see why you would want to avoid conflict but in my opinion in every day life conflict can be used to bring about change. For example, in a work environment conflict of opinion or ideas can cause friction among colleague however, if this conflict is managed effectively the conflict can bring out a collaboration of new and different ideas that may not have come about if the conflict had not been addressed and had just been ignored. Some people ignore conflict and just accommodate the stronger voice and some people are forceful with their ideas and opinion and do not listen to any one else. This is very common and if addressed, it could bring a more harmonious work force.
ReplyDeleteNikita