Rant or observation?

[deadhawg]

The wife and I went to a music festival last weekend.

I'm a huge fan of live music, and as an amateur musician myself I have a great appreciation for those who can play an instrument, be it guitar, keyboards or horn better than I can ever hope to. I knew going in it would be a mostly left-wing liberal crowd, but I was there for the music and tried to ignore the politics.

But, after a little while something kept running through my head, the parable of the sheep and the sheepdog - most people who read this board have seen it, if you haven't a quick search will find it. It is worth a read. It's amazing how this parable rang so true, especially in that situation. The vast majority of the people there were kind hearted, friendly, well meaning people who would never hurt anybody but simply don't understand or don't believe that there are "wolves" out there that will prey upon them without remorse. And these "wolves" may be individuals or religious fanatics or nations and sending them "good vibes" or a group hug won't suddenly make them like you.

I mostly avoided any political discussion with anybody, but I did try to plant a few seeds of what I considered common sense when I was able too. As I mentioned before, I considered most of these people well meaning, but in my opinion, misguided. Maybe I was able to open an eye or two, just a little bit though.

Gun content - I carried my G30 in my C-TAC the whole time, and nobody noticed.

Ron

 

[Valkman]

That's because some live on theory and some live in the real world. The theory is that life is great and if I hate guns and just enjoy what I like then no one will bother me.

Those that live on this theory will wake up when the real world steps up and bonks them on the head.

 

[Deus Machina]

People see in others what they see in themselves, most of the time. The general herd just doesn't understand that some people don't follow that.

Theory: I'm a generally nice guy that wouldn't willingly harm a hair on your head. I'm a logical thinker. Thus, logically, most people must be relatively harmless.

Fact: Most people are hardly as logical as I and much of the crowd here, and the further extremes of such are far from harmless.

Further note: notice how the well-meaning, law-abiding hipp--ahem--liberals in the crowd were all relatively privileged and likely never had a moment where their life or livelyhood could have hinged around a weapon. Their minds don't wrap around the fact that they could be beneficial at points.

 

[jlday70]

It is similar to what most kids do when the "monster" under the bed comes knocking. They hide under the covers or close their eyes real tight so they can't see the monster.

The problem with not being able to see the monster is these folks will never see it coming whether it be an attacker or some sort of government thing trying to take away just one more freedom.

 

[BruceRDucer]

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I think television has been a medium which suggests to the public that people are "nice" and vacuously so, to the extent that many people merely present to the world, the faces that they see on TV sitcoms and such, where everybody plays the game of Double Entendre [double-meanings] and witty quips. Everything is so namby-pamby and entirely removed from the reality of daily circumstance.

You ever notice how TV and movies never show the characters in an economic struggle for survival?

Anyway, many people have come to assoicate Passive Behavior with virtue, which is a tremendous error I think. Beneath the passive mask, lies a very real libido, a wolf, which is indeed prepared an some point in live, to engage in predation upon the sheep of the world.

That is why, self-defense is an excellent proposition.

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