Small acts of violence in conditions of animosity can lead to social conflagrations
In times of dry weather, people are cautioned not to be careless with fire. An unattended camp fire or even an unextinguished cigarette can spark a wildfire.
Similarly, in times of animosity between groups of people, fairly small acts of violence can lead to wider warfare. That is what has happened in Israel/Palestine.
People in large groups can behave more like wildfires than we usually like to admit. The difference is that wildfires don’t have leaders, but human leaders often lose control of the wars they lead and we participate in.
Engaging in or promoting acts of violence is a kind of social arson that should be condemned. Instead, we should use our human warmth to help each other survive and thrive against the cold realities of existence.
