I was horrified when I read the article about the Brunswick High School student — with the help of other students, his parents and possibly his teachers — creating violent videos depicting killings, knifings and explosions at our public library, at the former naval air station and at other locations in our area.

From the newspaper and online comments, the students and the parents of the videographer seem to think creation of these violent films is not wrong.

I disagree.

I called Bruce Gagnon, the coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space who lives in Bath and speaks frequently about the danger of our war culture. According to Gagnon, and I agree, violent video games and films have inured us to the horror and danger of guns, violence and war.

Gagnon told me this is the product of waging endless wars. Creating a culture that finds violence acceptable and entertaining is necessary if the United States is to engage in endless wars to support the militaryindustrial complex.

This culture of violence is supported and sanctioned “…while the soul of the American people shrivels up and we become accustomed to the killing and barbarity done in our name,” he said.

I do not want a world where killing and violence is acceptable.

Let me say here that I have been protesting violence in all forms since I was a teenager watching only black-and-white television. I’ve done my part.

I find it unacceptable that these videos are being created with the compliance of the students’ parents. I find it offensive that the parents of the student protest that the student might be judged and others “might get the wrong impression” about their son. I find it unconscionable, if it is true, that Brunswick High School teachers played the videos for other students to view.

Violence is violence. Violence begets violence.

I’m not going to quote the studies confirming that violent video games and movies increase aggressive thoughts and behavior while decreasing empathy and compassion. This is a part of our knowledge in the 21st century. How much stronger is the impact on these young people while they create these repugnant scenes of violence in virtual reality?

Are we to think that these students, owing to their higher IQs, are immune to the effect?

I think not.

We can at least hold the school teachers accountable. We can call the school board and ask that they create a policy that would prevent this type of video violence from invading our schools. We may not be able to prevent students from creating these on their own time with the help of their parents, but we can keep them out of our schools.

NANCY E. RANDOLPH, publisher of Just Write Books, is a former Topsham selectman and Brunswick town councilor.