Defend the Children

_{Barry Arrington
May 24, 2022

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The madness will not end until we grasp the following truths:

1. There are hundreds of millions of guns in the US.

2. Even assuming for the sake of argument that it would be a desirable thing to do, no gun control law can eliminate all or even a small fraction of those guns.

3. Evil men will always be able to get a gun.

4. Schools are soft targets full of defenseless people.

5. We can’t hire enough cops to guard all of those people.

6. We need to equip and train school staff who are willing to do so to defend themselves and the children in their care.

7. Don’t tell me it can’t be done. It is being done in Israel.

Fight me. Show me that one of those statements is false.

Comments

ET, 2 - 3 round bursts do extend the MP44 case, but they are restricted automatic fire, multiple rounds on one trigger pull. Where, that is in fact the proper way to use a full automatic weapon, long bursts are little more than a waste of ammunition. I recall being woken up in the night in my native city to hear a firefight in progress, noting the precise five round bursts coming from one side. KFkairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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F/N: Any one seeking to impose a novel reading of the US Const 2nd Amdt needs to substantially address Heller https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf The fact that these considerations are being routinely shirked is part of why we should be wary indeed, recalling the potential geostrategic consequences. KF PS, Why is it that firearms use and safety is not a routine part of high school curricula, similar to driving? And I would add units on key drugs that deliver substantial warnings, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opiates and opioids, designer drugs. In civics, some soundness on the US founding is called for. If the instructors cannot soundly address the US DoI, they are not qualified.kairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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3 round bursts make it an assault rifle, too.ET_{June 9, 2022
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ET, without full auto you do not have an assault rifle. Full size rifle rounds are also not intermediate rounds adapted for, full auto. Accuracy of language counts. KFkairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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F/N: Turnabout blame the target/victim projection is a main facet of another Schicklegruber special, the big lie: https://www.historiography-project.com/misc/biglie.php
it remained for the Jews, with their unqualified capacity for falsehood, and their fighting comrades, the Marxists, to impute responsibility for the downfall [of Germany in WWI] precisely to the man who alone had shown a superhuman will and energy in his effort to prevent the catastrophe which he had foreseen and to save the nation from that hour of complete overthrow and shame. By placing responsibility for the loss of the world war on the shoulders of Ludendorff they took away the weapon of moral right from the only adversary dangerous enough to be likely to succeed in bringing the betrayers of the Fatherland to Justice. All this was inspired by the principle — which is quite true in itself — that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily, and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes. From time immemorial, however, the Jews have known better than any others how falsehood and calumny can be exploited. [Adolf Hitler. Mein Kampf. James Murphy, translator. London, New York, Melbourne: Hurst and Blackett Ltd; April 1942; page 134. ]
Notice, the concept is defined by projecting blame to the target, through the stabbed us in the back legend. We see how big whoppers gain double persuasive effect from distraction to the despised other and the implication of what we now call concern trollery, we are seemingly being given good advice by the concerned and by suggestion credible. In reality, we are dealing with nihilistic pathological lying and slanderous projection. How can we deal with this, given that we have already seen the beginnings of a crocodile death roll by doubling down. Well, 1: Learn the reality of the tactic and its root. Here, one of the most notorious blood soaked pieces of deceit in writing foisted on a nation and world, ending in world war and holocaust. 2: Recognise lessons of history. A common big lie turnabout projection is that history is deceitful victory propaganda. In reality, history is just as often written by the losers of the war, Josephus and Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato and even Cicero are cases in point [he literally lost his head.]. 3: Instead, the lessons of sound history were bought with blood, treasure and tears; those who neglect, ignore or dismiss them, doom themselves to pay in the same coin over and over and over again. This is one reason why there are so many melancholy rhymes of history. 4: To that end of sound, prudent thinking, we must recognise the branch on which we all sit, first duties of reason and their binding nature as self evident truths of duty that it is misanthropic, nihilistic and anti civilisational to dismiss or deride . . . the drearily familiar trollish set to zero, cancel it out, will to power tactic. 5: Namely, our duties
1st – to truth, 2nd – to right reason, 3rd – to prudence [including warrant], 4th – to sound conscience, 5th – to neighbour; so also, 6th – to fairness and 7th – to justice [ . . .] xth – etc.
6: Thus, we should prize what is substantial, based on sound facts, cogent argument and draws prudent recommendations. Just the opposite of the cynical hateful, toxic barbs we see far too much of. Before we can find the path to sound reformation, we have a lot to learn and sometimes even more to unlearn. KFkairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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Full auto is not required. Just a powerful rifle, such as the AR 15. But I would go bigger. M1A at a minimum for feral hogs.ET_{June 9, 2022
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From very liberal progressive feminist to a defender of truth and logic, Naomi Wolf talks about gun control and the obvious. Very long and very good.
Rethinking the Second Amendment Can We Indeed Have Peace and Freedom Without Guns
https://naomiwolf.substack.com/p/rethinking-the-second-amendment?s=r I personally would never own a gun but could see myself going through a training regimen on using various guns. I also support the proposed age limit change to 21 for ownership but also support training for 18 years and above if they want it. Nobody wants “nut jobs” owning guns and maybe required training would ferret these people out. The one drawback is the arbitrary restrictions on people for political beliefs. This is a back door way of imposing gun restrictions for political purposes.jerry_{June 9, 2022
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JH, pointing out use of a known, demonstrated agit prop tactic -- and its roots -- is not an empty appeal. You are trying to speak for a faction as described. You are doubling down on turnabout projection. KF PS, on turnabout tactics exposed. Yup, we have seen them before here at UD.kairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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KF: JH, turnabout projection, pioneered by Mr Schicklegruber and co.
Ahh. Playing the Hitler card again. And it’s not turnabout projection. I never suggested disarming society but you keep responding to me with this flaming strawman. This is speaking in disregard to truth.JHolo_{June 9, 2022
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JH, turnabout projection, pioneered by Mr Schicklegruber and co. What part of, those whose hands are stained with democide under false colour of law to the tune of 63 millions growing at 25,000 more per week long term average have forfeited the presumption of innocence, do you fail to recognise? Apart from, what part of the many cat out of bag statements and the implications, auras and penumbras of precedents do you not understand? For example, a seemingly innocuous allegedly ban on magazines can effectively ban classes of firearms, the magazine being a key part of functionality. Where, a pattern of lying, slander, lawfare and reichstag fire incident exploitation of incidents further degrades community social capital, with several contrasting cases being highly instructive on the nihilism at work. That is part of why the US DoI speaks of a long train of abuses and usurpations. That is also part of why I am warning -- it is a warning -- on potential flashpoints. You will notice, I warned about nonlinear responses that make nonsense of oh so seemingly reasonable projections. On March 19. 1775, the British Governor of Massachusetts clearly did not understand what disarming people facing hostile threats implied [Americans were not peasants dependent on the military protection of their betters], and he for sure did not expect uprising, a battle with serious British casualties, civil war, revolution and losing world war. Some pretty deep, pretty ugly issues will have to be faced if disaster is to be averted, and I agree with Jerry that time is running out. KFkairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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ET, full auto? I doubt it, bad as those critters are. have you seen the tusks or fangs on a grown boar? [I remember seeing the fangs on a monkey up close the first time -- it was begging me to tickle it, most impressive.] KFkairosfocus_{June 9, 2022
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KF: It seems a credible threat has been made against the life of a Supreme Court justice.
I guess further hardening is required, because there is no desire to keep guns away from nut-jobs. Maybe the justices should be forced to undergo active shooter drills like school children do.JHolo_{June 9, 2022
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KF: This is an obvious flashpoint for escalated conflict and it is NOT coincidental that pretty much the same factions that seek to disarm the citizenry are the ones advocating for continued holocaust.
KF, yet another twisted pretzel strawman. We are not talking about disarming the citizenry. We are just talking about reasonable gun controls and restrictions on assault weapons and magazine size. All in all, you have made it quite evident that you are not arguing to truth, or with right reason or prudence.JHolo_{June 9, 2022
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In Texas they need assault rifles to deal with the feral hogs.ET_{June 8, 2022
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PS, you seem to misunderstand the double covenant, nationhood and government under our common Creator framework found in the US DoI but rooted in reformation thinking going back to Vindiciae and the Dutch DoU, 1579 and 81 respectively:
When . . . it becomes necessary for one people . . . to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God [--> natural law context is explicit] entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind [--> they were consciously universal in their appeal] requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, [cf Rom 1:18 - 21, 2:14 - 15; note, law as "the highest reason," per Cicero on received consensus], that all men are created equal [--> note, equality of humanity], that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights [--> thus there are correlative duties and freedoms framed by the balance], that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security . . . . We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions [Cf. Judges 11:27], do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
First, lawful, legitimate, functional Government defends the civil peace of justice, due balance of rights, freedoms, duties, DoI here uses the window of rights. Where Government goes wrong, lower magistrates and/or representatives of the people/nation have a right and duty of remonstrance to petition for redress. When however government becomes lawless, there is material breach of the second covenant, which legitimises forceful reform or replacement. Since that time the general election imposes a peaceful case for replacement on solemn assembly to audit. (One of the advantages of Republican form constitutional democratic government; formerly, change of dynasty was an occasional process, too often accomplished by war. See the history of Israelite monarchy for the framework behind the thought of the US founders..) In this context, the 49 year old decision that pretended justification for at will killing of our living posterity in the womb was abusive, destructive and a usurpation. It led to a holocaust of 63 millions. Those who objected, despite this great provocation have tried to work with the system to effect reform. Now that reform is in the offing, it is clear that powerful interests who have become lawless and are committed to further blood guilt, are determined to do almost anything to reimpose their will. This is an obvious flashpoint for escalated conflict and it is NOT coincidental that pretty much the same factions that seek to disarm the citizenry are the ones advocating for continued holocaust. 2 + 3 = 5.kairosfocus_{June 8, 2022
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JH, yet another twisted pretzel strawman. Murder is an inherent crime. You continue to use an arbitrary, manipulative term as well. Next, you refuse to heed the evidence that reduced to sound per capita comparatives, the USA is not the outlier, though any mass killing is to be condemned. All in all, you have made it quite evident that you are not arguing to truth, or with right reason or prudence. That is not how sound policy is built. KFkairosfocus_{June 8, 2022
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I’m confused. It is justified and a right to bear arms to defend yourself against the tyranny of government. But not justified when it is directed against a government official who supports what KF supports. Don’t get me wrong. Anyone who threatens a justice who opposes women’s choice should be punished. But, at what point is the use of force to oppose government justified? Maybe if we had some examples of this “tyranny” that justifies the unrestricted access to assault weapons, we could better understand the benefit to society of enabling the worst gun violence and mass shootings in the developed world.JHolo_{June 8, 2022
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It seems a credible threat has been made against the life of a Supreme Court justice.kairosfocus_{June 8, 2022
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TR The legal and criminal justice systems in the US have lost support from people. Normally, police and law enforcement agencies should be responsible for the safety of the civilian population. So, it's not really that people fear that the US government will attack them so they need guns for that, but rather that criminals may proceed unchecked and some people want to have a gun to protect themselves from that. Whether criminals or violent people are black, white or Hispanic should be irrelevant. I believe we try, in the US, not to assign guilt to groups of people based on their ethnic group or skin color. We're supposed to be one nation and one culture, but if that is no longer possible, then the US will break into warring tribes acting much in the same way tribes conflicted in Rwanda - looking at certain races as inferior. This has been true in the US even among "white" Protestant population conflicted with the Irish and other European Catholics and persecuted them for 100 years or so. America has always been a violent culture. Where wealth, fame and power seem to be within reach of the average person (and those are held as the highest values in the culture) then there will be violent attempts to achieve those things. Then again, Spain had a violent civil war. The anarchists in Italy were violent. The two world wars were European civil wars so to speak - obviously extremely violent. England and Ireland were a conflict lasting centuries. Serbs and Croats had hostilities. Communism was a violent takeover of eastern Europe. So, America is not the only place where there are violent extremes at work and instability. Conflicts can be due to political disagreements or racial clashes. If racial - then a country with more racial diversity than others will potentially have more violent conflict. Where there is less racial diversity, it's easier to attain agreement and commonality of purpose (as in a place like Japan).Silver Asiatic_{June 8, 2022
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nothing you have said has been clear from the beginning. I think you are very confused. I think you want to say its Blacks and Hispanics that are the problem, but don’t feel comfortable being that honest
As I said maybe you should stop commenting and ask questions. Everything is extremely logical. These are the facts. 1) The guns are primarily owned by people who do not use them for violence. In fact it is very rare. 2) the violence comes from those in poverty who are mainly black and Hispanic and have access to guns illegally. It is not widespread as most of the country lives as if it does not exist. But it must be horrifying for those who live nearby the violence. 3) To compare the US to other western nations is nonsense since the ethnic makeup is completely different. 4) the security of the world depends on the US. All of the above are true and said several times. But there are also other facts that are relevant. Some are 5) one political faction in the US now governs and has moved extremely to the left after attaining power in the recent election. 6) this political faction has traditionally demanded that guns be confiscated from people who don’t use them for violence. 7) they are the ones who seem to be afraid of the people with guns. The above are some of the facts. There are many others. I personally don’t see the US lasting much longer. It is like a large ship slowly sinking and the passengers are still partying. And when it finally disintegrates the rest of the world that depends on it will face a very different reality. People are blinded by the technology that makes life appear endlessly better. However, the human being has not progressed. I certainly hope this disintegration is not true for my children. But it’s hard to see how this will get any better. The signs of disintegration are becoming more apparent and they currently are not gun violence.jerry_{June 8, 2022
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As a start point for rethinking, please, show us a nine sided hexagon. (What, you can't, isn't the term hexagon just a word we can apply as we please, rewriting the dictionary at will, there is no such thing as a nature so there is no difference. So, on such radical nominalism, there is no difference between truth and error, truthfulness and willful deceit, justice and injustice, male and female, knowledge and myth, indoctrination and education, acquitting the innocent and knowingly condemning such, sound policing and the gestapo. See the nihilistic pattern?)kairosfocus_{June 7, 2022
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BTW, it sure looks like some shadow shows and moral inversions are being pushed. Complete with Reichstag fire incident tactics.kairosfocus_{June 7, 2022
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PPPS, Going beyond, let us recall lessons Plato drew from the Peloponnesian war:
Ath[enian Stranger, in The Laws, Bk X 2,360 ya]. . . .[The avant garde philosophers and poets, c. 360 BC] say that fire and water, and earth and air [i.e the classical "material" elements of the cosmos -- the natural order], all exist by nature and chance, and none of them by art . . . [such that] all that is in the heaven, as well as animals and all plants, and all the seasons come from these elements, not by the action of mind, as they say, or of any God, or from art, but as I was saying, by nature and chance only [ --> that is, evolutionary materialism is ancient and would trace all things to blind chance and mechanical necessity; observe, too, the trichotomy: "nature" (here, mechanical, blind necessity), "chance" (similar to a tossed fair die), ART (the action of a mind, i.e. intelligently directed configuration)] . . . . [Thus, they hold] that the principles of justice have no existence at all[--> notice the reduction to zero] in nature, but that mankind are always disputing about them and altering them; and that the alterations which are made by art and by law have no basis in nature, but are of authority for the moment and at the time at which they are made.-
[ --> Relativism, too, is not new; complete with its radical amorality rooted in a worldview that has no foundational IS that can ground OUGHT, leading to an effectively arbitrary foundation only for morality, ethics, so too justice, law and government: accident of personal preference, the ebbs and flows of power politics, accidents of history and and the shifting sands of manipulated community opinion driven by "winds and waves of doctrine and the cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming . . . " cf a video on Plato's parable of the cave; from the perspective of pondering who set up the manipulative shadow-shows, why.]
These, my friends, are the sayings of wise men, poets and prose writers, which find a way into the minds of youth. They are told by them that the highest right is might,
[ --> Evolutionary materialism -- having no IS that can properly ground OUGHT -- leads to the promotion of amorality on which the only basis for "OUGHT" is seen to be might (and manipulation: might in "spin"), opening the door to cynicism, hyperskepticism and nihilism . . . this is actually an infamous credo of nihilism . . . also, it reeks of cynically manipulative lawless oligarchy . . . ]
and in this way the young fall into impieties, under the idea that the Gods are not such as the law bids them imagine; and hence arise factions [ --> Evolutionary materialism-motivated amorality "naturally" leads to continual contentions and power struggles influenced by that amorality at the hands of ruthless power hungry nihilistic agendas], these philosophers inviting them to lead a true life according to nature, that is,to live in real dominion over others [ --> such amoral and/or nihilistic factions, if they gain power, "naturally" tend towards ruthless abuse and arbitrariness . . . they have not learned the habits nor accepted the principles of mutual respect, justice, fairness and keeping the civil peace of justice, so they will want to deceive, manipulate and crush -- as the consistent history of radical revolutions over the past 250 years so plainly shows again and again], and not in legal subjection to them [--> nihilistic will to power not the spirit of justice and lawfulness].
Which gives context to his Ship of State parable on the corrupt, incompetent, ruinous state and its faction dynamics:
It is not too hard to figure out that our civilisation is in deep trouble and is most likely headed for shipwreck. (And of course, that sort of concern is dismissed as “apocalyptic,” or neurotic pessimism that refuses to pause and smell the roses.) Plato’s Socrates spoke to this sort of situation, long since, in the ship of state parable in The Republic, Bk VI:
>>[Soc.] I perceive, I said, that you are vastly amused at having plunged me into such a hopeless discussion; but now hear the parable, and then you will be still more amused at the meagreness of my imagination: for the manner in which the best men are treated in their own States is so grievous that no single thing on earth is comparable to it; and therefore, if I am to plead their cause, I must have recourse to fiction, and put together a figure made up of many things, like the fabulous unions of goats and stags which are found in pictures. Imagine then a fleet or a ship in which there is a captain [–> often interpreted, ship’s owner] who is taller and stronger than any of the crew, but he is a little deaf and has a similar infirmity in sight, and his knowledge of navigation is not much better. [= The people own the community and in the mass are overwhelmingly strong, but are ill equipped on the whole to guide, guard and lead it] The sailors are quarrelling with one another about the steering – every one is of opinion that he has a right to steer [= selfish ambition to rule and dominate], though he has never learned the art of navigation and cannot tell who taught him or when he learned, and will further assert that it cannot be taught, and they are ready to cut in pieces any one who says the contrary. They throng about the captain, begging and praying him to commit the helm to them [–> kubernetes, steersman, from which both cybernetics and government come in English]; and if at any time they do not prevail, but others are preferred to them, they kill the others or throw them overboard [ = ruthless contest for domination of the community], and having first chained up the noble captain’s senses with drink or some narcotic drug [ = manipulation and befuddlement, cf. the parable of the cave], they mutiny and take possession of the ship and make free with the stores; thus, eating and drinking, they proceed on their voyage in such a manner as might be expected of them [–> Cf here Luke’s subtle case study in Ac 27]. Him who is their partisan and cleverly aids them in their plot for getting the ship out of the captain’s hands into their own whether by force or persuasion [–> Nihilistic will to power on the premise of might and manipulation making ‘right’ ‘truth’ ‘justice’ ‘rights’ etc], they compliment with the name of sailor, pilot, able seaman, and abuse the other sort of man, whom they call a good-for-nothing; but that the true pilot must pay attention to the year and seasons and sky and stars and winds, and whatever else belongs to his art, if he intends to be really qualified for the command of a ship, and that he must and will be the steerer, whether other people like or not-the possibility of this union of authority with the steerer’s art has never seriously entered into their thoughts or been made part of their calling. Now in vessels which are in a state of mutiny and by sailors who are mutineers, how will the true pilot be regarded? Will he not be called by them a prater, a star-gazer, a good-for-nothing? [Ad.] Of course, said Adeimantus. [Soc.] Then you will hardly need, I said, to hear the interpretation of the figure, which describes the true philosopher in his relation to the State [ --> here we see Plato's philosopher-king emerging]; for you understand already. [Ad.] Certainly. [Soc.] Then suppose you now take this parable to the gentleman who is surprised at finding that philosophers have no honour in their cities; explain it to him and try to convince him that their having honour would be far more extraordinary. [Ad.] I will. [Soc.] Say to him, that, in deeming the best votaries of philosophy to be useless to the rest of the world, he is right; but also tell him to attribute their uselessness to the fault of those who will not use them, and not to themselves. The pilot should not humbly beg the sailors to be commanded by him –that is not the order of nature; neither are ‘the wise to go to the doors of the rich’ –the ingenious author of this saying told a lie –but the truth is, that, when a man is ill, whether he be rich or poor, to the physician he must go, and he who wants to be governed, to him who is able to govern. [--> the issue of competence and character as qualifications to rule] The ruler who is good for anything ought not to beg his subjects to be ruled by him [ --> down this road lies the modern solution: a sound, well informed people will seek sound leaders, who will not need to manipulate or bribe or worse, and such a ruler will in turn be checked by the soundness of the people, cf. US DoI, 1776]; although the present governors of mankind are of a different stamp; they may be justly compared to the mutinous sailors, and the true helmsmen to those who are called by them good-for-nothings and star-gazers. [Ad.] Precisely so, he said. [Soc] For these reasons, and among men like these, philosophy, the noblest pursuit of all, is not likely to be much esteemed by those of the opposite faction [--> the sophists, the Demagogues, Alcibiades and co, etc]; not that the greatest and most lasting injury is done to her by her opponents, but by her own professing followers, the same of whom you suppose the accuser to say, that the greater number of them are arrant rogues, and the best are useless; in which opinion I agreed [--> even among the students of the sound state (here, political philosophy and likely history etc.), many are of unsound motivation and intent, so mere education is not enough, character transformation is critical]. [Ad.] Yes. [Soc.] And the reason why the good are useless has now been explained? [Ad.] True. [Soc.] Then shall we proceed to show that the corruption of the majority is also unavoidable [--> implies a need for a corruption-restraining minority providing proverbial salt and light, cf. Ac 27, as well as justifying a governing structure turning on separation of powers, checks and balances], and that this is not to be laid to the charge of philosophy any more than the other? [Ad.] By all means. [Soc.] And let us ask and answer in turn, first going back to the description of the gentle and noble nature.[ -- > note the character issue] Truth, as you will remember, was his leader, whom he followed always and in all things [ --> The spirit of truth as a marker]; failing in this, he was an impostor, and had no part or lot in true philosophy [--> the spirit of truth is a marker, for good or ill] . . . >>
(There is more than an echo of this in Acts 27, a real world case study. [Luke, a physician, was an educated Greek with a taste for subtle references.] This blog post, on soundness in policy, will also help)
Earlier, the Hebrew prophet Isaiah, seeing the corrupt Jerusalem elites of his day, denounced nihilism and its moral inversion:
Isa 5: 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right! 24 Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Of course, ever so many are disinclined to listen to, learn and heed such lessons of history. Indeed, that is precisely an effect of nihilism.kairosfocus_{June 7, 2022
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PPS, as a reminder, let us recall how -- ninety years ago now -- J B S Haldane clearly identified the incoherence of evolutionary materialistic scientism that leads to precisely the nihilism we are identifying. That is, we are seeing causal roots of the zeroing out of core knowledge wrapped up in a lab coat:
"It seems to me immensely unlikely that mind is a mere by-product of matter. For
if [p:] my mental processes are determined wholly by the motions of atoms in my brain [–> taking in DNA, epigenetics and matters of computer organisation, programming and dynamic-stochastic processes; notice, "my brain," i.e. self referential] ______________________________ [ THEN] [q:] I have no reason to suppose that my beliefs are true. [--> indeed, blindly mechanical computation is not in itself a rational process, the only rationality is the canned rationality of the programmer, where survival-filtered lucky noise is not a credible programmer, note the functionally specific, highly complex organised information rich code and algorithms in D/RNA, i.e. language and goal directed stepwise process . . . an observationally validated adequate source for such is _____ ?] [Corollary 1:] They may be sound chemically, but that does not make them sound logically. And hence [Corollary 2:] I have no reason for supposing my brain to be composed of atoms. [--> grand, self-referential delusion, utterly absurd self-falsifying incoherence] [Implied, Corollary 3: Reason and rationality collapse in a grand delusion, including of course general, philosophical, logical, ontological and moral knowledge; reductio ad absurdum, a FAILED, and FALSE, intellectually futile and bankrupt, ruinously absurd system of thought.]
In order to escape from this necessity of sawing away the branch on which I am sitting, so to speak, I am compelled to believe that mind is not wholly conditioned by matter.” ["When I am dead," in Possible Worlds: And Other Essays [1927], Chatto and Windus: London, 1932, reprint, p.209. Cf. here on (and esp here) on the self-refutation by self-falsifying self referential incoherence and on linked amorality.]
kairosfocus_{June 7, 2022
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TR, at this point, you habitually twist what others say into strawmannish pretzels. The presence of the sort of gangs in question demonstrates the presence of nihilism on the streets, especially in urban areas. As for gang related shootings monitor Chicago, where many are routinely caught in crossfire or are targetted. Similarly, as a significant number of gang and drugs related shootings etc occur on or near school premises, the confused numbers we have seen come from that conflation. Meanwhile, we duly note that the issue that radicalisation and nihilism are key driving factors in these suicide attacks is still not cogently, substantially engaged. The further issue is the self evident, readily knowable, potentially transformative first duties of reason you and others studiously avoided above, in effect zeroing them out. It is the marginalisation of core moral knowledge which drives the ongoing disintegration of moral fibre, paving the way for a slide into lawless oligarchy. And as Provine publicly admitted, evolutionary materialistic scientism is an ideology that makes such marginalisation seem plausible, even though this ideology is multiply self refuting. KF PS, on the first duties of reason:
We may readily identify at least seven branch- on- which- we- all- sit (so, inescapable, pervasive), readily knowable first principle . . .
first duties of reason and first universally binding laws written into our rational, responsible nature and forming morally driven governing principles of reason, high and low alike:
"Inescapable," as they are so antecedent to and pervasive in our reasoning that even the objector implicitly appeals to their legitimate authority; inescapable, so first truths of reason, i.e. they are self-evidently true and binding. Namely, Ciceronian first duties,
1st - to truth, 2nd - to right reason, 3rd - to prudence [including warrant], 4th - to sound conscience, 5th - to neighbour; so also, 6th - to fairness and 7th - to justice [ . . .] xth - etc.
Likewise, we observe again, that the objector to such duties cannot but appeal to them to give their objections rhetorical traction (i.e. s/he must imply or acknowledge what we are, morally governed, duty-bound creatures to gain any persuasive effect). While also those who try to prove such cannot but appeal to the said principles too. So, these principles are a branch on which we all must sit, including objectors and those who imagine they are to be proved and try. That is, these are manifestly first principles of rational, responsible, honest, conscience guided liberty and so too a built-in framework of law; yes, core natural law of human nature. Reason, inescapably, is morally governed. Of course, there is a linked but not equivalent pattern: bounded, error-prone rationality often tied to ill will and stubbornness or even closed mindedness; that’s why the study of right reason has a sub-study on fallacies and errors. That we sometimes seek to evade duties or may make inadvertent errors does not overthrow such first duties of reason, which instead help us to detect and correct errors, as well as to expose our follies. Perhaps, a negative form will help to clarify, for cause we find to be at best hopelessly error-riddled, those who are habitually untruthful, fallacious and/or irrational, imprudent, fail to soundly warrant claims, show a benumbed or dead conscience [i.e. sociopathy and/or highly machiavellian tendencies], dehumanise and abuse others, are unfair and unjust. At worst, such are utterly dangerous, destructive,or even ruthlessly, demonically lawless. Such built-in . . . thus, universal . . . law, then, is not invented by parliaments, kings or courts, nor can these principles and duties be abolished by such; they are recognised, often implicitly as an indelible part of our evident nature. Hence, "natural law," coeval with our humanity, famously phrased in terms of "self-evident . . . rights . . . endowed by our Creator" in the US Declaration of Independence, 1776. (Cf. Cicero in De Legibus, c. 50 BC.) Indeed, it is on this framework that we can set out to soundly understand and duly balance rights, freedoms and duties; which is justice, the pivot of law. The legitimate main task of government, then, is to uphold and defend the civil peace of justice through sound community order reflecting the built in, intelligible law of our nature. Where, as my right implies your duty a true right is a binding moral claim to be respected in life, liberty, honestly aquired property, innocent reputation etc. To so justly claim a right, one must therefore demonstrably be in the right. Likewise, Aristotle long since anticipated Pilate's cynical "what is truth?": truth says of what is, that it is; and of what is not, that it is not. [Metaphysics, 1011b, C4 BC.] Simple in concept, but hard to establish on the ground; hence -- in key part -- the duties to right reason, prudence, fairness etc. Thus, too, we may compose sound civil law informed by that built-in law of our responsibly, rationally free morally governed nature; from such, we may identify what is unsound or false thus to be reformed or replaced even though enacted under the colour and solemn ceremonies of law. The first duties, also, are a framework for understanding and articulating the corpus of built-in law of our morally governed nature, antecedent to civil laws and manifest our roots in the Supreme Law-giver, the inherently good, utterly wise and just creator-God, the necessary (so, eternal), maximally great being at the root of reality.
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KF, you think other countries don't have gangs? And are you saying its gangs that are massacring children in schools in the US? Jerry, nothing you have said has been clear from the beginning. I think you are very confused. I think you want to say its Blacks and Hispanics that are the problem, but don't feel comfortable being that honest. And you have no idea crazy the notion that you need guns to protect yourselves from the government sounds to those of us in the rest of the world. You are living in a fantasy from a couple of centuries ago. Its that inability to let go of the past and live in the present that is the problem, I think.TimR_{June 7, 2022
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JH, I think TR pushed in what was not there. I give you the same, look up MS13, Cripps vs Bloods, Posses etc. KFkairosfocus_{June 7, 2022
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TR, depends on where the school is. But I have seen drug based warlordism. look up MS13 and Cripps vs Bloods, Posses etc. KFkairosfocus_{June 7, 2022
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you have spent all this time telling me its about ethnic diversity, and when I point out the US is not unique in its diversity, you now say its actually all about left governments and their oppression
You are confusing too very different things. The need for guns among the vast majority of owners is for protection against an oppressive government. Said many times on this thread. The origin of gun violence is not amongst law abiding gun owners. The majority of gun violence comes from poverty and I pointed out that the US is unlike every other western country. The closest country in ethnic make up to the US is Brazil. Two completely separate issues - reason to have guns is oppressive government; reason for gun violence is due to those in poverty. Those in poverty could care less about oppressive government but live in gang environments that exalt the use of guns. This has been clear since the beginning. Maybe you should refrain from commenting and just ask questions.jerry_{June 7, 2022
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KF: I've hung out in some pretty dodgy areas, yeah. But admittedly I haven't spent any time around schools.TimR_{June 7, 2022
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