tactical

So people are perplexed by me at times. I got into a conversation the other day about how intelligence and and the view that violence is sometimes necessary seem strange to exist in the same person. To me it seems strange that they wouldn't exist together. An intelligent person should realize that violence is essential. To say it is not is to live in a fantasy world. Don't get me wrong it would be nice if no one ever needed violence, but we are not there yet (Looking at history and the way we are progressing as a species it seems we never will be). I'm not saying it should be the first option, it should be the last, but it has to be an option. Some people can't be reasoned with, some people cannot be reformed, some people do not deserve their next breath.

Now I'm not advocating senseless or pointless violence (such as using violence to settle petty and meaningless arguments). Sometimes violence is the only defense against senseless and pointless violence. In those cases it becomes a necessity. To be honest I don't consider the uses I find acceptable to be "violence", merely a tool for defense and prevention of violence.

Now Buddhism teaches that harming another is harming one's self. That's a nice fluffy belief. One that can not be afforded in the current state of being.