”In the ways of vice, men urge each other onward. How shall anyone be restored to the
path of safety when impelled forwards by the multitude, without any counteracting influence?”
Seneca, 60AD
During the French and Indian Wars (1754-1763), the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), and the War of 1812 (1812-1815, actually just a continuation of the Revolutionary War), active combat operations were habitually directed (from the highest level of authority) against purely civilian targets, mostly on the frontier.
Outlying settlers in present-day NY, NJ, and PA were regularly attacked and murdered by French combatants and their Indian allies.
During the Revolution, settlers were attacked and murdered again, this time by British soldiers, British loyalists, and their Indian allies.
Then the same thing occurred, once more, during the War of 1812. British and Indians ranged along Lake Ontario, murdering pioneers and burning their settlements.
Evil men always prefer the weak and defenseless as their prey!
Thus in those days, who chose to live “out on the frontier” knew and understood that they had to be fully-equipped to handle all emergencies, as “help” was (at best) weeks away!
However, these audacious pioneers’ devotion to self-sufficiency and self-reliance were smugly viewed by naive urbanites as “rustic,” quaint, perhaps perplexing, and certainly (where personal firearms were concerned) shocking!
Still is!
Yet, blissful ignorance and lack of preparation were often fatal in those days.
Still are!
The difference between then and now is that today we have leftist/elitists in political power who knowingly force citizens into a position of continual helplessness by prohibiting them from possessing and species of firearm.
We thus continue to witness those who have been forcibly disarmed (and thus rendered defenseless) routinely selected for victimization by evil men (who are “impelled forward” by these same leftists).
Armenia, 1915-1917
Europe, 1940-1945
China,1933-1945
Israel on 7 Oct 1923
South Africa, 2010-2025
And another example, from here and now:
For some time, a violent EDP has been regularly harassing, threatening, and assaulting hikers on public trails around Mt Baldy, CA. A posted public police bulletin warns that this suspect is “extremely violent and known to carry large knives”
Yet, all CA (also NY, NJ, MA, et al) state parks and hiking trails are, by law, “gun-free zones.” Possession of any kind of firearm is strictly prohibited. But, this draconian prohibition applies only to mere citizens. Politicians and public employees are, of course, exempt!
Still, remote places that harbor mountain lions, bears, and violent human criminals would appear to be the very places where one, anyone, would desperately want to be armed!
To address this apparent contradiction, liberal/hypocritical politicians (who, as noted above, have conveniently exempted themselves from obeying their own laws) cynically suggest:
“Walk with a friend” (preferably one who is a slower runner than you!)
“Carry a cell phone” (so “responding authorities” will be able locate your body sometime before rigor-mortise sets in!)
“Carry pepper-spray” (an attacking psychotic maniac “with large knives” might be impressed; maybe not; either way, you’re betting your life on that little can of annoying chemicals)
To Seneca, “Vice” was considered a moral fault, a defect in character, “ethical relativism.”
“Vice” is the opposite of “Virtue,” which represents ethical excellence and moral rectitude.
In today’s world, as in Seneca’s, “Vice” is the all-embracing credo of leftist/elites, while Virtue is mockingly denigrated by these same leftists.
Accordingly, in today’s world, as in Seneca’s, the helpless/defenseless (by leftist edict or voluntary, makes no difference) need not look forward to a happy future, nor to any future for that matter!
“Reality is an ‘absolute.’ Existence is an ‘absolute.’ A speck of dust is an ‘absolute,’ and so is a human life.
Whether you live or die is an ‘absolute.’”
Ayn Rand
/John
