It was the largest, most luxurious passenger ship of its times. Yet, though built to be unsinkable, the legendary Titanic went down the north Atlantic waters after hitting an iceberg on the night of 14/15 April 1912 claiming the lives of 1,502 passengers and crew.

95 years later, on the University Campus of Virginia Tech, in the powerful United States of America, 32 persons were brutally shot dead by Cho Seung Hui a fellow campus resident who then killed himself.

It is rumoured that seeming little details as missing or detached bolts in the hull plating of the Titanic contributed to its defeat within hours, though years of hard work were required to realize the project of such a super liner.

Similarly only the parents of the poor students who fell under Cho Seung Hui?s bullets know how much love and time they invested in raising their wards to only but see their young lives uprooted in a flash by a seemingly disturbed gunman.

Destruction in a flash

In fact, the culprit was known to Campus police since 2005 following a harassment case filed against him by two female students. He was prescribed psychiatric treatment and considered a danger to himself and his surroundings by a Virginia magistrate. Yet, he got access to the guns with which he perpetrated the US most tragic college mass killing in history.

Both tragedies highlight two undeniable aspects of life:

(1) We can only be as strong as our weakest link.

(2) Building is a lengthy and arduous process but destruction happens in a flash.

While some bolts might have contributed to the shipwreck of the giant sea liner, the main Achille?s heel of Virginia Tech killing can undoubtedly be identified as violence. When easy access to powerful weapons like guns is coupled to a disturbed awkward and seemingly bullied personality, the destructive potential of violence increases only but by tenfold!

It would be unwise to consider spectacular display of violence as a problem foreign to Mauritius. The tragic shooting spree in Montagne-Ory, which claimed the lives of five persons last year and Piou Piou?s unrestrained revenge a few decades ago remind us of the contrary. We are lucky enough that access to firearms is subject to severe control and it should always be so! When some skeptics argue that violence has always existed and is not inherent to our modern society, the very autopsy of violence and its rampant growth is compromised.

Though it might have been a timeless fact of life, we must admit that the consequence of violence seems proportional to progress. Firearms have won long established civilizations while bombs can claim thousands of lives within seconds.

It would be absurd though to blame technology because being violent is a question of choice. We have to determine when and why people choose violence to meet their ends. After which we shall promote better alternatives while discouraging the wrong choice. Knowing that violence can strike in a more powerful way if it is fuelled with weapons and the like, access to same should be subject to stringent control.

Promote a peaceful society

Injustice for instance can trigger resentment which in turn may give rise to hatred. Under adverse conditions like provocation, furious revenge may be sought as a solution to get to terms with bitter feelings. Even more so given that such a choice is often glorified on the unavoidable TV!

It would therefore be desirable that evils such as nepotism, injustice and ill treatment, which may trigger bitter feelings, be reduced or eliminated. Non violence should be proposed as a trustworthy and efficient solution to address these problems and supported by examples such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King crusades. Exposure to violent materials on TV should be decreased and moral values glorified at home and at school.

Furthermore people should interact more humanely, bullying for instance might have contributed to make of Cho Seung Hui a frustrated loner. Moreover we should see to it that our decision makers favour laws and systems, which encourage and promote a non violent society. They should be decried when they behave violently!

Violence is a vicious though seductive circle, designed to vow our fragile embarkation in this unique and fruitful voyage of life into a regrettable shipwreck. To be avoided and - why not -eliminated at all costs? because after all life is priceless?