Dealing With Violence

The editorial "Save the Children (and the Adults)," Feb. 10, discusses the phenomenon of violence among youth that is plaguing society. The column "Restraining Hearts Too Full of Violence," Feb. 18, is about the problem of inadequate restraining orders against violent men.

At the root of these problems is the model for behavior set by our own government. I recall the prime-time news broadcast during the Persian Gulf war that showed young American soldiers ruthlessly gunning down Iraqi soldiers who were trapped inside a bunker in the desert. Those same young men were then shown receiving medals for bravery at ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

As long as our leaders insist that war is preferable to diplomacy, and that national and world affairs must be a competitive business, then we can expect our citizens to learn the lesson that the best solutions are violent ones. Ellen Katwinkel Wilson, Los Gatos, Calif.

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