RR, great thread! Thanks. I'm sending you a BIG HUG. Plus, you made me think a lot. I was brought up by a communist couple - card carrying members of the Communist Party. The most important message my parents passed to me and my brothers was: "Never judge people by their colour, or religion, or sex, or social background, or the way they dress,they think or talk ... Know them before you make your oppinion, because ignorance leads to violence. It is easier to beat a guy than to reason with him. Just remember that to begin a fight is easy, to end it is very difficult. And never hurt anyone or purpose. You'll all do enough harm to others without meaning it."
By the way, my ex-communist parents came to the conclusion that there is no motive to continue being communist, at least with the meaning it had in the 30 or 40 or even 50 decade, so although they are both near 70 they have been learning and investigating, to choose and direct their vote.
So, I believe that most violence comes from ignorance. If people bring up their children in the "do it to them before they can do it to you" principle, only hate and violence can come out of that.
Another BIG HUG to you and try not to get very upset about people who react violently to your being anti-war. They probably know no better.