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"Violence represents the annihilation of language: it occurs when words fail, when people refute dialogue or are themselves silenced. But when violence has taken place, all of us — participants and observers — have the potential to redeem the situation with, by, and through language. Unfortunately, the dominant liberal-conservative discourse around the G20 has largely been one of condemnation, which closes down conversation. This is natural in a society usually sheltered from violence: our reflexive response is that if violent acts occur, they are abnormal and abhorrent, and should be punished. So we seek punitive justice: justice for vandalism in the courts; justice for disproportionate force in public inquiries or parliamentary debate. What this risks suggesting, however, is that once the offenders have been punished our society returns to peaceful normalcy."
