[FreeBeer]

I don't know what a pot looks like. I think Vaan has a point, what if the fire is too strong.... the fire of war.... fighting it water would only feed oxygen to the fire. Fight fire with fire, eh.

o.o hmm then how can we suck out all the air so the fire has nothing left to feed on?

[Funkdragon75]

^^ fighting fire with water is more effective lol. How about we offer the option of free information/education if ppl want it. No forceful violence, just let others understand things. The truth is the mightiest weapon imo and the most non violent. I will defend myself if attacked, however I will not take revenge. That is my personal inner moral code. I fight for true freedom not enslavement of others to my ideals through violence (there are many forms of violence not just physical. Example: the teacher at school telling me what to think and what not to think is violence).

If what you are saying is true then I should start my bloody crusade on the governments and corporations of the world right now. Simply eliminate them right?....hell I would love to see anarchy and liberty everywhere! I don't see how me doing that will change anything at this point we are all slaves to national debt. At least mine isn't 400.000+ $ per capita and I'm capable of seeing the objective truth. Guess that makes me somewhat of a T.

I'm also not a pot smoking hippie. I'm an anarchist. ^^ pot is cool with me thou.

I was about to type the same thing! lol I think you said it better though...

[Nalanol]

This is a sensitive subject from reading everyone's posts, and it obvious that each one must make a conscious decision to pick up a sword or lay it down. Weigh the decision with caution, thinking of the final ending you wish.

If one is walking home at night and some stranger walks up and starts to hit them, would it not be practical to protect ones self by defending ones self against the assailant by any means necessary to prevent harm being done? This is a random chance meeting and the consequences could be final. The logical conclusion would be ...

If someone is being attacked resulting from a conscious stand to protest something, be it political, religious, social, or <fill in the blank> and refuses to take a retaliatory violent approach after being violently assaulted, what does that say about the depth of their character? Their dedication and integrity?

I can not say that violence or pacificism is always called for, we all must choose our battles.

[FreeBeer]

This is a sensitive subject from reading everyone's posts, and it obvious that each one must make a conscious decision to pick up a sword or lay it down. Weigh the decision with caution, thinking of the final ending you wish.

If one is walking home at night and some stranger walks up and starts to hit them, would it not be practical to protect ones self by defending ones self against the assailant by any means necessary to prevent harm being done? This is a random chance meeting and the consequences could be final. The logical conclusion would be ...

If someone is being attacked resulting from a conscious stand to protest something, be it political, religious, social, or <fill in the blank> and refuses to take a retaliatory violent approach after being violently assaulted, what does that say about the depth of their character? Their dedication and integrity?

I can not say that violence or pacificism is always called for, we all must choose our battles.

:) exactly. There is a difference between self defense and violence towards others. When words and peaceful action falls short...then we are reduced to self defense. Defending one's freedom is important, just as important as letting others have theirs.

[Vaan]

^^ fighting fire with water is more effective lol. How about we offer the option of free information/education if ppl want it. No forceful violence, just let others understand things. The truth is the mightiest weapon imo and the most non violent. I will defend myself if attacked, however I will not take revenge. That is my personal inner moral code. I fight for true freedom not enslavement of others to my ideals through violence (there are many forms of violence not just physical. Example: the teacher at school telling me what to think and what not to think is violence).

If what you are saying is true then I should start my bloody crusade on the governments and corporations of the world right now. Simply eliminate them right?....hell I would love to see anarchy and liberty everywhere! I don't see how me doing that will change anything at this point we are all slaves to national debt. At least mine isn't 400.000+ $ per capita and I'm capable of seeing the objective truth. Guess that makes me somewhat of a T.

I'm also not a pot smoking hippie. I'm an anarchist. ^^ pot is cool with me thou.

Lol then its greek fire or oil fire, you just have to let it burn out. Yes random education would be ok but it wouldn't be able to make any worldwide change unless it is made into a complete ideology and the basis of society across the globe, which is the unity pathway. Now the chances of humans ever not being in a state of opposition are basically zero so its impossible that way, and its impossible, as stated above that you cant just sit there and be attacked or you will just be assimilated by the attacker (on the country scale), or killed. We cant just expect peace and preach it without having very thorough and logical/implementable plans and options to stop the violence that dont themselves include violence. Its naiive to believe humans are a species that is destined to be in a constant loop of war.

And no by my logic you should be "Replacing" those governments and coorporations with ones that you feel would do the best, but then there will be alot of people that will hate that government and those coorporations so really nothing will have changed. No point trying to change something that dosent change as an entity, only in form. You can dress a monkey up as a human and call it a human but its still a monkey ^^.

[FreeBeer]

Lol then its greek fire or oil fire, you just have to let it burn out. Yes random education would be ok but it wouldn't be able to make any worldwide change unless it is made into a complete ideology and the basis of society across the globe, which is the unity pathway. Now the chances of humans ever not being in a state of opposition are basically zero so its impossible that way, and its impossible, as stated above that you cant just sit there and be attacked or you will just be assimilated by the attacker (on the country scale), or killed. We cant just expect peace and preach it without having very thorough and logical/implementable plans and options to stop the violence that dont themselves include violence. Its naiive to believe humans are a species that is destined to be in a constant loop of war.

And no by my logic you should be "Replacing" those governments and coorporations with ones that you feel would do the best, but then there will be alot of people that will hate that government and those coorporations so really nothing will have changed. No point trying to change something that dosent change as an entity, only in form. You can dress a monkey up as a human and call it a human but its still a monkey ^^.

:) I wouldn't replace them, just get rid of them, aka government by the people for the people with no central body. This a sort of decentralization where power is never in the hands of the few who could abuse it. The abuse of governmental power is happening right now...everywhere. Violence toward the very people that elect them in power. As I said self defense is important but I don't walk around and force my believes on people ^^ like some humans and nations do.

Imo the best plan for peace is acceptance and respect. When we learn to accept our fellow man, then we are closer to peace. This is something every individual can learn for themselves and pass it on through example to their children. It's slow but effective.

As an individual anarchist I can tell you from experience that trying to control others only leads to them rebelling against you. There is no intricate plan that can lead to peace. The best plans are simple ones.

Give people the freedom and meet their basic needs. Healthy, free people from free, healthy environments don't run around displaying violent behavior towards others.

[sarek]

I want to change to world. I want that change to happen in a non violent way and I will always chose that route whenever I can. Nonetheless, change may in reality have to occur with a bang rather than with a whimper no matter what I would prefer.

And while the seeds I want to help sow are in themselves the seeds of loving kindness and peace, the tree that may grow out of them, driven by forces beyond my control, yes, perhaps even by fate itself, could turn out to be a tree of judgement. But if that is to be, so be it. I can only do what I must.

[krentz]

I would just like to interrupt this thread to say that, after coming across the typo 'pacificism' I then began to wonder if such a thing as Atlanticism existed, and quick Google search turned up this funky little article. Interestingly enough it seems to be a political term, too.

Anyway, I will fight in self-defense and on behalf of others where I deem appropriate. I abhor violence but have no qualms about employing force if it becomes necessary, and as much as it pains me to admit, sometimes it is very necessary.

[thecaterpillar]

Though I find myself fighting (verbally...never physically), I try not to. We aren't supposed to be indifferent or apathetic, though. My God tells me to fight for the truth and what's good. In order to fight for what is right, I look to passages like this one:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ..."
Ephesians 6:10-18

Even if you aren't Christian or religious, this is has a good method for fighting what is wrong. Hold onto the truth, be truthful, be loving, and stay strong in your morals. With most "bad" you can overcome and even enlighten them with love, truth, and their respect when they see you holding fast to your morals. I've witnessed it myself. Any "evil" that can't be fought like this isn't changeable.

[Touk]

I fight, and I wont stop fighting! And not in a violent physical sense but in the loving caring sense, I'll use my caring and loving nature to fight, and if i have to use physical force to make that love shine I will, and if I have to hurt others to protect those i love and fight for those I love, i will! and I will not murder or torture nor will I allow others to! I have been tagged as a fighter from birth and I have been fighting since, and I will not stop nor allow others to stop fighting, where other lose hope i will replace it! Because I believe there is something to fight for! I fight with the darkness for the good, I use the knowledge I have of the darkness against itself to protect those I love around me! To fight for what you believe is the best reason to fight above all, but if what you believe is immoral and wrong then more the reason to give up!