To many people today's teaching makes no sense and would be impossible to observe. At the most, some people might say it is a nice ideal but not meant to be seriously followed. And yet, on reflection, not only is it something we should all try to do, it is really the only deeply human way to deal with violence directed against us. Returning violence with violence, as we see in one war after another or in social conflicts, solves nothing but usually makes things worse. There are, in fact, many examples of people who "turned the other cheek". Far from being a sign of cowardice and passivity, it requires huge inner strength and a deep conviction of the dignity of every other person, including people who cannot recognise it in others. The policy of active non-violence was shown by Jesus himself, by Stephen the first martyr, by people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and many others.