Threatening Violence

Time for some sports. The chairman of West Ham United FC is not happy that Tottenham Hotspur FC want to use the Olympic Stadium in London after the 2012 games. But rather than outline a logical or reasonable explanation for why his club should get it he said:

It would be such a slap in the face to east London. If it happens, there will be real problems that could easily lead to civil unrest. I think there could be riots, such is the ill feeling between West Ham and Spurs and I know the police feel the same.

We have the unions threatening violence, the Islamists threatening violence, the police threatening violence and now football clubs. How have we got to the stage that people believe that threatening violence will further their cause?