Olorini,
I am not endorsing violence. I am simply stating what I believe would happen. Whether or not I think it should happen doesn't really enter into it. I am a Christian that tries not to judge people en masse by their actions because everyone has personal motives and personal reasons for what they do, but there is one common denominator that shadows over all human beings throughout all of our history and that is our greed, our lust for power, and our willingness to kill for it.
I think that I agree with you to an extent; however you are underestimating the innate lust for violence and power that exist in the hearts of human-kind. No intellectual education is going to dampen that; which has also been proven again and again. We simply find more sophisticated ways to dominate one another.
War is an ugly business indeed; I do not deny that War is the ultimate failure. But all things of this concept of which we are discussing here is in one way or another: WAR; whether a physical war or armies or a guerrilla war or a psychological war.. however you spin it; it is still the ultimate failure of human beings to simply Love one another.
If a revolution fails than it is merely a rebellion which is usually bloody. If a revolution succeeds than may also be equally bloody. When a revolution is stifled by inaction, apathy, indifference, and fear; then it is a protest.
You say that violence doesn't result in freedom? Perhaps in a few cases, but nothing that really lasted. Trying to achieve true freedom is like trying to bail water out of the Titanic.
You say that "The West" has it up on the rest of the world because we do not brutally repress people. What is your definition of repression because surely there are many forms of it. Capitalistic oppression is the name of our game. Capitalism cannot succeed without oppression; so be careful not to let yourself be fooled by the false ideology that just because you don't see Sally Struthers or Alyssa Milano crying about the oppressed children of the West that they don't exist. The amount of money that our country gives away to corporations for war/resources and does NOT spend where it is needed.. in places like Sub-Saharan Africa is the biggest form of oppression of all. The oppression of indifference.. when people want to close their blinds and say "It's not my fault" "It's not my problem"; it is our fault. Cain after murdering Abel asked God "Am I my brothers keeper?"; Yes, Cain. You are.
Once again, I do not endorse violence; but I also do not ignore the reality that a heated powder keg will one day explode.
Am I saying that I myself an going to drive to the house of my governor and start taking shots? By no means. I am only interested in defending my loved ones. I am not suggesting that people do this either.. My point was that most people are in a state of denial when they actually think that the people in power are really going to work for them; people that actually get those positions don't get there by being charitable nice wholesome people.. There are probably a few (very few) exceptions (maybe) but none that I can really think of. This is why any candidate that tries to represent themselves by playing the Christian card I will trust the LEAST. Christians have no business in politics in my opinion.
But I don't think anything is going to happen any time soon.. not when people are content to just say "OH GEE-WIZ: I guess I have to pick the lesser of 2 evils". Total apathy.
What is the answer? No one here wants to hear my answer.
Hunker down
Edited, Jan 3rd 2012 11:17pm by Kelvyquayo