Will, Won't, Can't, The Choice is Yours

To fight or not to fight that is the question
We live in a dangerous world, no surprise there, we do not want to but we do and some live and work in more dangerous areas of the world than others.
I am all for peace and like I have said in the past if I never have to use what I know again in this life time it will still be too soon. That although a nice thought is not a realistic one.

We all have choices with regards to how we live our lives, that is how it should be and part of having a choice is that when we are faced with a physical threat or are in mortal danger, should we fight back?

At first it looks like a fairly straight forward yes or no answer; but when looking for the answer we have three different sets of people to consider, those who will fight back, those who will not fight back and those that cannot fight back.

Because we are all different in every respect we also have varying degrees of fight - won't fight - can't fight minded people. Some of us would do anything to ensure the safety and security of ourselves and our loved ones, some of us may stop short of killing in self defence and others may stop short of grievously hurting someone in self defence. The fight - backs and those who can't but want to fight back are the ones who can be saved, the ones we as instructors can help.

The can't fight are the ones who can't because they have never been taught how too or they are the ones who really cannot fight back, the aged, the very young and the infirm both physically and mentally and it is these who really cannot fight back that should be protected when possible by those able to provide that help, those who can fight back.

So the reason we now come to this blog post, the won't fight back individuals. I heard a comment by a man of the cloth recently on a TV talk show and one comment from him had me thinking. His comment was 'I would rather be killed than kill', fair enough that is his choice as is his right but is this a selfless or selfish choice on his part or maybe a religious choice and what about all of the rest who are not within the church but who choose not to fight back?

Now I am all for jumping in and helping someone who I see in trouble, why? Well because I can, but here is the rub and it is a bit of a which came first the chicken or the egg type of question. If I jump in and help someone does that person really want my help? Unless it is easily identifiable that the person does need my help then how do I know for sure that I am doing the right thing?

The biggest question of all though is this, does the person who has chosen not to fight back really deserve my help? Putting myself in harms way because they have chosen to be a sacrifical lamb kneeling at the concrete alter of violence. It reminds me of the scene in the Rambo 4 film where Rambo and his do gooding passengers are stopped by pirates. After Rambo saves their lives by killing every pirate one of the men complains about him killing them and says he will report this to his organisation, well there's gratitude for you. 

What would happen after you save a violence objector, would you be the one they round on? Would their ingratitude endanger others by stopping you in the future from jumping in and helping? Would they defend you in court if it came to that? If you had to use lethal or near lethal force to save this person would they see it the same way as you or would they in turn get you jailed?

Food for thought

Stay Dangerous

Rock