The idea of non-violence did not begin with Gandhi. He must have had some influence from an ancestor particularly one who at first invaded the neighboring state of Orissa which is presently an Eastern region of the Indian subcontinent. This state was defeated and afterwards the mentality of its conqueror changed to that of pacifism and the worship of Buddhism. He wanted to mend his ways.

Today I think that many violent people resort to pacifist ways once they get older. In other wards the rebellious years of the twenties become the reflective years of the forties and older. I believe that studies on the transition away from blatant riotous behavior have been done and perhaps this will be key to stemming the appeal that such behavior has on people who are indifferent to talks before taking extreme action.

I still think that violence begets more especially when we are constantly exposed to blood thirsty, car crash action films. They seem to be big box office drawers but as the late philosopher Popper suggested, they are reflective of a destructive, violent society, one in constant search for an external enemy. He proposed non-violence too as an alternative means to being destructive.