(no subject)

[odanu]

QOTD: What is so important to your life that you would resort to violence to protect it?

Me: My family, the ability to read the books I want, the entire constitution.
You?

Comments

[polydad]

I understand; I am trying to suggest that your parsing parameters may be in need of revision.  Specifically, order revision; the question of "Is it acceptable to use violence" should IMHO come much further down the tree, and thus not be relevant at many higher levels of decision-making. 

F'r ex, I attend a lot of political protests and rallies.  At one in downtown Portland, OR last month, there were a gang of neo-nazis present. My willingness or not to engage in violence with them never became relevant, because we never got within a hundred yards of each other, and that was with a company of riot cops between us.  I do have to admit to a strong and ongoing temptation to grab a riot cop in full gear and waltz them around the square, and I suspect I might still be capable of so doing.  But I don't think that counts as 'violence' under the definition in immediate use.

[odanu]

Being willing to commit violence generally implies a belief (whether accurate or not) that something or someone is in critical danger and only violence will protect it. That's the answer I'm looking for. What is so important to you that its imminent loss would lead you to violence.