Violence, Accountability, and Morals

The other day my son and I were at a skate park. For a while, it was just the two of us, until two young kids rolled up on their scooters. This story is about one of them.

A Lesson at the Skate Park

It didn’t take long before they started including my son in their play. The leader of the pair, who I later learned was 13, asked if he and his friend could ride around the park with my son between them, to make sure he stayed safe.

“Yes, of course!” I told him.

They made a few laps, pulling off jumps and tricks. My son soon impressed them enough to take the lead, showing what he was capable of. Everything was good.

A Kid Wise Beyond His Years

Later, the 13-year-old pointed out that my son’s scooter needed a few adjustments. I pulled out my tools and fixed it while he observed from a picnic table. When I was done, he asked if he could check my work. He carefully looked things over, we agreed it was much better, and I thanked him sincerely. I already knew this kid was special, but that sealed it.

The Fight

About 40 minutes later, I noticed the boy and another kid rolling on the ground, fighting. At first it looked like a friendly wrestling match, but my son later confirmed it was a real fight, tempers flared, and they were truly angry. Still, after the scuffle, they separated and went back to being cordial.

Why Violence Sometimes Is the Answer

Before leaving, the 13-year-old stopped in front of me. He apologized for the fight, then explained: the other boy was a bully from school, and sometimes he had to step in and “put him in his place.” Apparently, the bully had been picking on one of the younger kids.

That boy understands something many adults on their moral high horses seem to miss. We like to repeat the phrase, “Violence is not the answer.” But sometimes, it is. It’s the intent behind the violence that matters.

Morality, Violence, and Power

MAGA, for example, promotes violence for its own gain. That’s very different from a young boy standing up to a bully.

When we see violence in the world, whether at home or in politics, we must be honest about intent. We’ll never fully know the truth behind every act, especially when filtered through propaganda. But we can recognize the difference between cruelty and protection, between domination and defense.