Cierra Lemott 
October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, is International Day of Non-Violence. Violence can be defined as a great destructive force. This day is perfectly placed as Gandhi is most known for his non-violent approaches and peaceful philosophies.
Established in 2007, this day is celebrated to encourage people to live more peaceful and less violent lifestyles. Working out our issues without the use of violence is the ultimate goal.
Violence doesn’t just relate to the physical though it is commonly seen through poverty and neglect. Violence can be seen physically as well as mentally and emotionally. It can include a variety of structural evils such as food deserts, redlining, gentrification, gerrymandering, segregated schools, mass incarceration and much more. Racism, poverty and militarism, or the triple evil, are also things that stem from violence.
Though they may appear the same, nonviolence and non-violence have a slightly different meaning. Non-violence means that there isn’t violence allowed in a given space and has nothing to do with a belief system. Nonviolence is a way of life displayed in all aspects of life and is self-governed.
One of the most common resolutions to violence is de-escalation. De-escalation is reducing the intensity of a conflict or potentially violent situation. The first step to de-escalation is gathering the information needed to understand the situation best.
Practicing non-violence (or nonviolence) may not be the easiest thing to accomplish, but it is a better alternative than using violence. Conflict and anger are reduced overall and will benefit everyone overall. By spreading the importance of non-violence, we can make the world a better place.
By Cierra Lemott, Columbia College Chicago alum
Instagram: @kodakscamera
X: @LemottCierra
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