Aemynn
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Posted - 2011.08.12 17:10:00 -
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We have wandered a bit into societal/political commentary. You have my apologies in advance for my preaching, but the level of cynicism and naivety has irked me.
Shooting intruders is a defensive or stalling tactic. It is not going to resolve the conditions that create a real or imagined growing societal instability problem (UK riots, race riots, class warfare, wealth imbalance, etc.. Pick your favorite.)
Story Time
Once upon a time, a Son worked at a convenience store to earn money to buy gifts for Christmas. One day the store was robbed and the Son was shot and killed. When the Killers were caught, the Son's Mother went to Court to see those who had killed her child. The Mother found herself shocked both at how young the murderers were (young teenagers) and at their complete lack of respect for life (no remorse for their crime.) Instead of railing at Fate and Society, the Mother acted.
The Mother and her Husband created a free pre-kindergarten school for at-risk children. What does "at-risk" mean? These are children for whom the school meals are often the only food they receive that day. For whom a winter coat, hat and mittens are considered a Christmas gift instead of a back to school necessity. Some have emotional issues. All have really big smiles.
The Mother and Husband, while earning no wages (they live on Social Security checks, the husband drives the school's bus,) and relying on donations plus the local food bank and underpaid assistants (underpaid to the point they're almost volunteers,) they feed the children, teach them their letters, their numbers, a tad of Christian morality, and how to behave socially. Thus when the children enter public school, they have the self-discipline to behave in class and are ready to learn.
Since opening years ago, some of the school's alumni have gone on to college.
Take Aways
There are people who will kill you for no good reason. They really do exist, and you are not immune. US Society, a mighty technological and economic marvel that has developed the means to destroy civilization, that has developed an incredibly efficient world wide communications network (internet,) and that can export a food surplus (45% of wheat is exported,) has shown that it is still possible to create, harbor, and grow the systemic societal rot necessary to create child citizens that place no value on another's life.
Secondly, one has a choice on how to treat the rot. One can ignore the rot, one can excise or amputate the rot when it finally encroaches on one's personal boundaries, or one can take actions to stop the rot before it has a chance to take hold.
Finally, As an aside, several years ago, thieves broke into the schoolroom (a rented room in a Church of all things) and in addition to stealing valuables, the thieves stole the school's food. An individual armed homeowner can defend against a burglar trying to steal a flat-screen telly because most thieves value their lives more than a luxury item, but can an individual truly stockpile enough ammunition to defend against people willing to steal food?
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