Pacifism

When people believe that they must solve theirdemonstrate to some degree what it means.Ultimately,
problems with the direct use of force and violence, itwhen fighting and conflict rise from beyond the
will show as a great sign of the failure of civilization. Dodomestic crises, it will manifest itself in war -- but much
sophisticated men solve their quarrels with the use ofmore than just that. For every bomb dropped, it is
violence? When scientists are presenting a newanother sign of lost hope. For every soldier
theory or hypothesis, would they ever feel the need tobayonetted, every village burned, every dissent of
use physical force, or would they bring evidence? Aopinion suppressed -- when we look at every sign of
good theory will not be in need of violence, just aswar, we are reminded a little less of why we believe in
much as good men will do as much as they can tothe bloom of humaneness. War has never brought
solve their problems peacefully. I believe in Pacifism,peace, it has never brought Democracy, it has never
and by this, I believe that whenever violence arrises,brought economic stability. Those incidents of revolution
the beautify in humanity decreases, the flower ofmay in some cases be the exception to this. But the
reverence wilts, and a storm just begins to foment onrise of the Western World's dominance in global
the horizon of the future.My opposition to violence, toaffairs, of such a small amount of countries making up
the use of physical brutality as a method to reach athe policies and regulations for such a great amount of
conclusion, is based on my humane philosophy, and mynations, it has only followed a great deal of Imperialism
love of every conscious being. For every organismand war. In every nation that has felt the grueling whip
that is alive in this Universe and lives every day with asof the overseer, there has been the crater of war, the
much fear as they do hope -- who adores thoseempty bowl of famine, the slums of poverty. In these
tender memories of intimacy, and writhes and cries atconditions, nations will struggle to survive, as all meaning
those traumatic events that shifted their reality into aof a true Democracy are removed by foreign
nightmare -- for every being that can suffer and everyinvestors. And so, we have the image of war:
being who mourns such suffering, there is anothersacrificing the lives of our children, for the sake of
reason to believe in Pacifism; to believe in the way ofeconomic prosperity. Yet, it is not economic prosperity
peace, in that it is an ultimate goal of our humanein that all involved benefit, but it is rather economic
sentiments. For every experience that is touched withslavery, in that one is forced into cooperation at no
the pain of violence, there is another mournful tear inbenefit, whereas the other receives the profit of the
the eye of compassion -- another lie spoken by truth.other. As soldiers march off to battle an enemy their
In this world of ours, where war and famine areleaders have told them was a source of all infamy,
consequential results of a Capitalist economy, where athere will be one less reason to think that civilization will
man's opinion is enough for the government to cursebe acheived.Of all inventions, of cultures which have
them, where the most respected of the population aremade the human species sing praise and of those
revered for their devotion to an unseen being -- whenthinkers that men attribute genius to, of all creations,
everyday is another spectacle at how much a jokethere are fewer that have more merits than that of
our civilization is, at pursuits that create nothing andDiplomacy. Through the use of this wonderful creation,
share no inspiration, at every person's fear to say andwe can try to settle our differences not through the
be what they think -- to see the regrets of those whosword of war, but through the quill of reason -- not in
are now war veterans, to feel the trembling pains ofspite of compassion, but at the aid of reverence.
those who never sought a lover -- when everyday isLeaders may be reviled as those who are either
just another struggle to be honest and sincere, the onlydictators or representatives, and the difference
wish I can cast upon the fading star of our future isbetween the two possibilities is rather insignificant, but
that more will appeal to the position of Pacifism, andthere was one tool that leaders had at their disposal
more will adhere to those non-violent solutions.When itwhich gave civilization a brilliant light to its shine. That
comes to a fight, a physical fight, it is little more than antool was Diplomacy. The first day that a person used
expression of aggression, but the bruises will alwaysreason instead of force to conclude an argument was
run deep down to the soul. Humiliation and Depressionthe first day that civilization had a true realization. Not
may infect the mind, just as scars and debility willjust in the structures, or the artwork, or the productivity,
destroy the body. There is not a just court in this worldor those fickle matters that historians toil over when it
who would accept a fight as a proper method tocomes to culture. But in the hearts of men and
reach a verdict. Those verdicts which are guided bywomen, there is a real understanding of civilization,
the principles of justice and fairness, they are notwhen they lean towards solution which are most
based on the fighting ability of either the defendent orpeaceful, and offer the greatest praise when violence
the plaintiff, but rather by the evidence presented bycan be averted. I will give Diplomacy this very merited
both sides. It was a blessed day when Dueling grewdistinction among other creations. Unlike the factories
old and tiresome, and garnered no respect from thosethat produce more bombs than we have earth --
who valued civilization and truth. The idea that amore bullets than we have people -- Diplomacy was a
quarrel, a dilemma, an argument, can be settled withcreation that was not brought about for use against or
the use of brute force -- this idea is simple afor justice, against or for liberty, but rather, as a
demonstration of grave ignorance, at the cost ofconflict-resolving, peaceful method.Violence is violence,
intelligence and truth. When we see two individualsand it is a form of brutality that will never be
fighting each other, for the sake of some trifle oracceptable in the heart of the Humanitarian -- it will
another, little more than disdain can be used toalways be reviled as ignorant as much as it is
express our opinion on the matter, as fighting will solvemerciless. There are, though, a very few amount of
nothing. When two scientists are arguing against eachcases where violence can be condoned, but in these
other, both of them upholding their own method asinstances, the definition of "violence" and "force" are
being a better way, evidence will be the determiningalmost altered entirely. When a man is attacked, this is
factor in which one we decide to believe. In matters ofviolence, but when he fights back, it is equally violence
intellectual investigation, of confirming or debunking,-- but in the case of fighting back, it is justified, it is a
when it matters because it's what we believe -- brutesign of strength and duty. There is no way that I could
violence, the use of coercion, has never been loyal tostill adhere to the foundations of Reason and Logic,
the spirit of truth, has never offered assistance to theand still not defend a person's right to self defense.
methods of reason."Be with me now," a lover will sayAsside from this right, there is one other instance
to the person who gives light to life. Never are thesewhere force and coercion can be allowed. In those
words more sincere than at the conclusion of someinstances where an injustice has been committed, and
conflict, at the end of some arduous fighting,recompense must be paid, it is allowable. An example
intolerance, indignance, viciousness. To engage inof this would be our modern corporations: they pay
fighting, in a contest of physical strength, it will not solvepoorly and they sell at high prices. In the end, the
problems. To those who are so willing to do so, theybusiness world gathers wealth whereas the poor
may find that for years they will be haunted by thestruggle to survive. In this world, where Capitalism
screams of their downed victims, by the tears ofreigns and the downtrodden must suffer, to shoplift
widows and orphans. Mercilessness among every vicefrom a store is but an act of revolution -- it is justifiable
-- when a child cries, only those hands that belong to ain that corporations are thieves themselves. In a very
humane person will reach. For a man to be robbed, toreal way, shoplifting is more of repossession and not
walk down the same street he has every day of histheft. When companies force 12 year old children to
life, and to have his property taken away from him --sew soccer balls for 10 cents an hour, this is a crime.
the man will have lost more than a physical item. HisWhen a street punk steals food to feed himself, this is
heart will be wrought with the pains of the depth ofnot a crime. And it is interesting to recognize that the
cruelty in men. It may be a thing to lose an item onelaw recognizes the first as not a crime and the first as
day, no matter how cherished or dear that item is. Buta crime. The government does not exist to serve the
when someone destroys your reasons to believe inwill of the people. But in the instance where a person is
charity, your motives to understand the emotions ofdefending themselves or their rights or justice, physical
the hearts of others -- when something is capable offorce is justified, but in those instances where people
rendering such a bruttish, terrible effect, it is more thanare trying to solve a simple dilemma, it is not justified.
just the loss of a physical item. So, too, when a man isThis is my position on the matter of Pacifism and
struck or attacked, he will feel more than just the painPeace as a Humanitarian. Life,Punkerslut (or Andy
from the blows, but an unending confusion andCarloff) has been writing essays and poetry on social
depression, mostly centering around the question, "Howissues which have caught his attention for several
could they do that?" And it will be meant that it is hardyears. His website provides a complete list of all of
to believe that a person could reach such cruel depths.these writings. His life experience includes
I will not pretend that I can accurately express howhomelessness, squating in New Orleans and LA,
horrible a man feels when they are wronged -- suchdropping out of high school, getting expelled from
emotions are beyond the possibilities of our humblecollege for "subversive activities," and a myriad of
language. But, hopefully, I have been able toother revolutionary actions.