Unfortunately, our society has changed drastically in just a few years; anger and violence have become daily occurrences.
For example, the same week, I experienced two incidents:
In a very privileged neighborhood in Aventura, Florida, for unclear reasons, two valets responsible for parking cars, fought bloody. Eventually, they were fired.
Two days later, while visiting my beloved Husband, Ambassador Ghoulem Berrah, at the cemetery, I was utterly surprised when a couple started punching each other. I was shocked to see such behavior in such a sacred place. When I decided to step in and try to find a peaceful solution, the gentleman jumped into his car and left.
Psychological research points to the importance of a type of unconscious imitation in everyday life and may hint at how profoundly Mimesis guides behavior. The French Philosopher and psychologist René Girard developed the mimetic theory extensively, including the concept of mimetic desire, a pervasive tendency in humans to imitate others not deliberately or consciously, but somewhat helplessly.
Because we have been emotionally disturbed by four years of daily scenes of violence on our TV screens from constant wars, people become victims of Mimetism and unconsciously behave the same way.
Wars cannot replace Dialogue because, sooner or later, after countless humans have died, a day will come when enemies sit down and make peace. Let us pray for Peace.