Violence is Driven by Vulnerability

The vast majority of violence oppressing the poor is not driven by the overwhelming power of the perpetrators—it’s driven by the utter vulnerability of the victims. Give the poor a strong, consistent advocate who won’t go away, and the oppressors will simply leave them alone. Why is that? Violence is intentional and scary, and it leaves deep scars, but it also can be stopped. Well, here is the first secret: Those who prey upon the poor are not brave. They only prey upon the poor when they think they can. The reason these men fly all the way to Cambodia to abuse children is because they think no one will try to stop them.