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Watching a video of Buddhist monks –– who are most often associated with peaceful ways of living – involved in a violent riot is to me a great irony as well as an obvious record of the tragedy of current human values. It saddens me deeply at the same time it awakens me from my lingering — although involuntary — indifference towards world happenings.

I often forget that the world exists beyond my daily routine of cruising the same avenues on my way back and forth from the office, and my own little fights with lines, traffic and a hectic schedule.

Even worse, I seem to often ignore the fact that life moves in a cycle in which local issues are a manifestation of a planetary condition, which in turn is just the sum of our parts — our part in the conflict. Actively, passively, by default ...

By now, the story and video of the eight Florida teens who brutally beat up a 16-year old girl because of comments she may have posted on MySpace has been widely spread (Just one day earlier, a New Zealand teenager committed suicide after being beaten up — and also videotaped — by other students.) Also known by now is the case of a Baltimore sophomore who, after being instructed to sit down and be quiet, kicked and punched her teacher while her classroom cheered her on.

Yet, I still wonder what the real tragedy is — if these barbaric acts or rather the reactions, or lack of, from all of us.

The Florida beating has suddenly become a public discussion about the legality of cyber spaces such as YouTube and MySpace with a blurry background showing a parent justifying her daughter’s actions against the victim — according to her, the girl on the receiving end had it coming.

Monks and nuns dragged on the streets of Lhasa, beaten with bamboo sticks, kicked and punched, before being tossed in a dismissive way in overcrowded vans and trucks headed for Chinese jails. In the background again, a few standing protesters yelling “Free Tibet, Free Tibet.”

The main concern deriving from these scenes – which incidentally have been going on for more than a month now? The potential economic consequences that could arise from a strong opposing reaction from world nations. France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was quoted saying that decisions like this, involving economics, must be made “at the expense of human rights.”

We live in a violent world, no doubt.

Even entertainment has turned violent. Song lyrics often include foul language and promote drug using, while video games, TV shows and movies use explicit violent content. Television reality shows are also big on drama and the ruder, harsher or more violent the character, the better (and inevitably somehow, the more popular as well.)

Many understandingly blame the media and entertainment industry for the violent incidents around the world, especially those involving youngsters. However, my best friend always used to say that when pointing fingers at others, there are three other fingers pointing back at you.

It’s a matter of how much these incidents move you inside. If we don’t speak up or act immediately, then we have lost moral authority to whine and examine (blame) others.

I often see seeds of violence in our streets, homes and offices. Even in an apparently peaceful place like Naples and Marco Island. Do you see them too? They go from reactions to traffic, to sewers, to stories in the newspaper, to the success of others. They don’t necessarily involve kicks and punches. They include defamation, insults, dismissals, accusations, cynical remarks, scorn and despise, lack of tolerance towards our differences, bullying.

How many times have we heard others or ourselves ask what society is doing to our kids? But you and I are the society. What are we doing to our kids? What are we doing to ourselves?

Human condition has become such a big excuse for those who don’t know better or simply don’t want to do better. Betrayal, competition, hatred, prejudice, arrogance and indifference are optional. So are compassion, kindness, empathy, responsibility, service and forgiveness.

It starts with you and me ... with the dialogues we establish with ourselves and others, especially those witnessed by new generations, and with the actions we generate that promote peace and not otherwise. What are you doing for others? Who did you help today? What solutions did you come up with for each complaint you have? How did you make other people’s lives better today? How much effort did you make to understand the things and people that upset you? How responsibly are you living today? It starts with awareness and ends with actions.