Dictum: “Violence never solves anything.”
It is the eternal piece of advice given to us by everybody, specially the Powers That Be. Yet, those Powers are the ones that have no problem applying violence if you were to step out of the mandated parameters or just become increasingly annoying by demanding them pesky things called rights. Lots of people fail to see the contradiction and follow the dictum to their sepulchers.
I was told that the pics above are from a university students’ march in Venezuela protesting about fair elections or something like that. The picket of police was waiting for them near the central Elections building and as you can see, they were ready not for a waltz but to provide a beatdown if the students got too uppity for their own good. The pic below is the money shot and something very typical: Pro-Government goons, guns in hand harassing and intimidating attendees to the march. And no, police does not do squat about them.
Since Chavez got elected and even after his death, not one single solitary protest/march/movement/happening from those who opposed him has produced one single solitary change in politics. Armed goons are now the norm and people being shot is not uncommon. Those marching do sing the pacifist songs and act according to WWGD (What would Gandhi Do?) without any effect, basically confirming the definition of insanity: Do the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
So when your local politico says that Violence is never the answer and asks you to surrender your weapons, just go ahead and flip him the big one because you can be sure that they will never surrender theirs.
They set the rules, they just do not like to play by them.
Sombody should point this out to Japete (Joan Peterson) as an illustration of how she is constantly misconstruing LaPierrre’s comments about ‘…the guys with the guns make the rules…”
“Violence is not the answer. It’s AN answer.”
“Violence is not the answer. Excellent guess, though.”
“Violence is not the answer, but you get partial credit for trying.”
“You know those people who say violence is not the answer? THEY’RE WRONG.”
Above 4 quotes are mine, to the best of my memory. Feel free to use and adapt them. I think Robert Heinlein put it best, though:
“Anyone who clings to the historically untrue — and — thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never solves anything I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler would referee. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor; and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms.”
Violence never solved anything? Tell that to the guys with the fully automatic rifles stacked up outside your door when they decide you’re “dangerous”…
I like how the guy in the wife beater has his thumb behind the slide.