OT

Shakespeare's Sister has a Question of the Day post, asking which of the current crew of Evil Republicans would you like to kidnap and tie to a chair in your basement to yell invective at for 24 hours.

I'm bothered by this on many levels. While most of the men in question have never seen actual violence perpetuated personally, that does not mean that letting them experience being the victim of assault and abuse will be of any benefit. They are likely to don their mantle of Victim and use this as an excuse to stifle freedom of expression or other essential rights we currently enjoy. Nor will they learn from the experience and have the maturity to take from their experience and how they felt as a Victim to empathize with others who have suffered a great deal more as a direct result of their policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, or here at home. Now, they are likely to take Victimhood and Martyrdom to mean what they wish it to mean, and let their paranoia dictate policy.

Violence only perpetuates more violence. To live eye for an eye 100% of the time is impossible, because then only the blind will be left. The chain has to break. We have to keep confronting lies with Truth, and refusing to reward violence with more violence.

It is true we will not win every battle. We cannot rescue them all. But we have to keep trying, or Evil will triumph in our despair. We have to continue with non-violent protests and reasoned thoughts, even if we are sure they fall on deaf ears. Because there will always be someone we did not notice who is listening and watching, and learning.  ¶ 2:07 PM