I think when you get to the heart of your heart, you will find that it is defined by innate tenderness and vulnerability. We are, in the animal kingdom, like rabbits. We are quiet, not overly bold, social, and most of us, given our druthers, would prefer to avoid conflict.
Now, some of us morph through repeated traumatic experience into Vorpal Bunnies. I am half joking, half serious. The image of a violently dangerous bunny is funny because that is so contrary to their nature.
And it IS contrary to their nature. It is contrary to ours too. But you can only take so much before you shut out and off the World.
Many of us, certainly me, gravitate naturally to the Apex Predators. To the tiger, the lion, the Orca, the eagle, the hawk.
But if you think about it, you don’t need much courage when you are stronger than everything you see. The latent idea is to be able to open up a can of whoop ass on your enemies before they can do it to you. And so violence is fed, all of it partly rational.
I will submit, though, that it takes more courage to live as a vulnerable creature in a world you KNOW is violent.
My feelings may differ in five minutes, but that is what I feel at this moment.