Hrolf The Ganger

He's one of my ancestors.  He was a Viking and I suppose they might have been one of the original gangs in history.  They were certainly a society, a culture all their own.

These guys were rough to say the least.  If it had been Hrolf on the Parkway (bear with me lol), he would have gutted the goblins who assaulted me and put their heads on poles at Victoria Park with signs denoting their crimes.

Well, we are civilized now huh?  Yes.  There are those who gut anmd behead but they do it for religious fanaticism, not for medieval justice.

We have civilized methods to deal with perps now.  The most effective is firearms.  But self defense is timeless and methods can vary.  I leave it to each person to apply what is needed both toolwise and skillwise for the best conclusion.

As for the legal system that supposedly proves we have advanced past Hrolf's rough justice, it's a mixed bag.  It is a major piece of the Republic we must bit by bit restore.

Hrolf by the way, went on to take Normandy.  He was made a duke.  My ancestors eventually came to England with William the Conquerer and several settled in Scotland.  Rough boys and girls fought and died and who laid the groundwork in part for Freedom as it has come about today.

Just because I'm descended from these guys doesn't make me tough.  It is a heritage of course that evokes pride.  I am here now however.  It is up to me to fight for freedom.

What makes me 'tough' is the resolve to restore the Republic, to be Free in all respects and to indeed fight on all levels for it.

The state should realize this about all of us.  We are ALL the descendants of anyone who fought for Freedom.  It is a heritage of choice as well of blood for me.

I think Hrolf is smiling.

Being Civil

There is a lot of talk about civil war these days  And there are a lot of ramifications (great word lol).  Being civil has a lot to do with it.

Being polite has nothing to do with it.  Being honest does. 

A lot of people don't want to make waves.  They rely on civilized behavior to mask cowardice.  And those who would control, who would destroy the 'experiment' that is our Republic, also rely on that.

When people speak out, not in blood filled fanatical rants, but in reasoned yet firm terms, that rocks the boat.

Our enemies have to do hazard control.  They are well studied and have prepared for a lot of exigencies.  No one can prepare for everything.  There is always an 'x' factor.  Thus there is being ready for the unexpected.  Both sides know this and take said measures.

Don't expect an explanation of that.  Its very nature precludes it.  But, speaking for myself, one must develop an ability to adjust and function no matter what happens.  One must instantly assess and act.  Not to reiterate, but my 'mugging' proved that to me.

BTW, I'm refraining from most commentary etc about that and its aftermath til it goes through the dredgy bureaucratic crapfest known as a legal process.  Needless to say, the state and its agents are performing as expected.  Stay tuned.

As for being civil, it actually requires us to shout and rally those who will rise to meet the threats we face.  It is also necessary for us to keep our heads.

Civilization is a thin veneer.  Human nature is the same, just technology changes.  That means we are capable of great good and great evil.  depends on what we want to achieve.

If or when civilization breaks down, aka the system falls apart, we will have to call upon inner strengths.  we may have to do things we ordnarily would not do.  But self defense demands such.

Then being civil will be the buffer that keeps us from deteriorating while we employ measures to stop the threat.

Being civil demands that we force damage control to overwhelm our enemies, foreign and domestic.

Keeping our heads precludes that we don't jump the gun as it were.  Those who would control us hope we attack.  We must play a delicately balanced game as we counter their assaults.

Think on your feet .

Poobahs

You know the type.  They are the pompous a$$ prigs who hijack religion.

Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and yes even Buddhism have had their share of, to be kind, zealots and accompanying movements. 

These people want to do your thinking for you.  Do not let them.  Some are in seemingly absolute positions of 'authority' in religious organizations.  Even if it means expulsion just make it, a 'you can't fire me, I quit' scenario.  

If you are consistent and keep truth foremost, they may keep you from an org.  But they cannot stop you from living your faith, whatever it may be.  The trick is not to let them get you to be defensive.  Then, you may seem to be protesting too much.  Be honest and avoid diatribes.  Length may or may not count.  If you can be succinct, ok.  If length exposes truth, so be it.

Mutual belief is NOT fanaticism.  It is agreement by a group in a belief system. 

Socalled fundamentalism is NOT fanaticism.  It is belief in a very 'conservative' vista.

ANYTHING can be fanatical though, when selfish interests supercede belief.  There may be a fine line, but calling for death to all but your group is a megaclue for instance, that things are off the track.

Imposing (aha) things on others is the super inkling.

We who enjoy and espouse Freedom would not force others to accept it.  Its very nature means it is freely accepted. 

We will explain it, discuss it, relate it to any and all.

Those who oppose it will stop at nothing to destroy it.  Talk about poobahs!  Emphasis on 'poo' -s-.

And if it is attacked, we defend it.  In words and deeds.

A Real Two Parter

Braveheart and The Patriot are a natural combo.  The theme of the fight for Freedom is naturally passed from one to the other.

As usual, keep in mind these are movies.  As far as history goes, they are not accurate.  As far as the spirit of Freedom goes, the are spot on.  Artistic license has to be exercised in the best of projects, as it's all approximation.  I wouldn't bother with this except it serves as a disclaimer if there are a few who are either misled or are nit pickers for accuracy. 

The quest for Freedom continues.  What occured in Scotland segued to the colonies.  It was cinematically an embarrassment to some in England, an extension of the actual historical events.  I found that to be the case when I participated in a group discussion of Braveheart.  I suggested the above connection and initially received support.  Then, it wavered.  Soon, the people running the group ignored me.  And believe this or not, when I got to the site, I was tracked.  If I told you it was MI6, bet you'd say I was imagining it.  -s-

At any rate, some people want to indeed rewrite history.  Or they are embarrassed by their ancestors.  The status quo is a powerful magnet, causing some to cling to the past as they see it.

History should be a mirror or a light which points to the future.  Others make it conform to their skewed views.  As the voiceover in Braveheart says, 'History is written by those who have hanged heroes'.  It can be.  Or, as I was taught, it reveals our past, warts and all, to help us in the present to build a better future.

Back at the movies, there is the theme of reluctance.  Wallace, based on a real person, wants at first to just be left alone.  that ends in disaster because tyranny leaves no one alone.  People creep about, hoping to be ignored, under the radar if they just toe some mark.  They take quite a lot.

Some of these become collaborators.  It's the old theory that you feed all else to the alligators to keep them from eating you.  Need I say how that ends -s-?  Some reach a point, as did Wallace in movie and real life, that the only alternative to enduring oppression is to resist.

Similarly, Benjamin Martin, based on several real people, fought in the French and Indian war.  He saw and participated in some radically savage acts.  That's war.  He didn't want his family to experience it.  So he wanted to avoid conflict.  This, as we know, became impossible again in movie and reality. 

Tyranny is hungry, all consuming.  If you want a spiritual analogy, a preacher I met told me how demonic spirits behave.  He said they were not picky, that they wanted to destroy us all.

Ignoring and appeasing lead to the same end.  Facing fear and doing something go another way. 

Historically, we have fought for and attained Freedom.  We must do so again.  It is an ongoing dynamic. 

Quoting from another film, John Wayne's Alamo, we face what all people in all times have faced.  To endure oppression.  Or to resist.

Thugs

Yes I'm referring to the scum who jumped me, but to more than them. 

There are roving bands of low lifes who roam, sometimes let out in a particular area, looking for a crime of opportunity.  It usually involves assault and theft.  It may include burglary, home invasion and rape.

These pukes don't care.

I told my tale to a few folks on Facebook.  Among the responses I noted were the ones that asked why.  Why.  Who would do this and why did they do it.

I answered simply that there were 'people' (though these have given up their humanity) who didn't give a fig about anything but themselves.  They take what is not their's, and the price can be fatal or at least injurious to others.  And these thugs hope they meet folks who wonder why. 

I can't do more than tell people that thugs exist.  I hope I help wake them up before they themselves get jumped and that they prepare to defend themselves, family and property.  I don't think I'd be here if I hadn't used some of my skill, though not enough.

Matt Bracken's trilogy illustrates what might well happen when civilization collapses.  I believe these rovers are readying themselves.  They fancy themselves street soldiers.  Don't over or under estimate them.  For when it comes down to it, they will find out what war is all about.

Mind you, I am not seeking them out.  But if these schmucks make a second mistake, I will stop the threat.  The warrior has indeed reawakened in me -s-. 

Again, I have debriefed with some whom I trust.  I have practiced and will continue to do so close quarter skills both armed with gun or blade and unarmed.  My awareness is back up, having dwelt among the lotus eaters too much.

I will talk of gangs soon.  They are a cancer which needs to be excised from the Republic.

The scheisskopfs who jump people are of course cowardly.  Three on one is their usual number, but there is always more than one.  Exceptions in there being just one on one can happen, if they think they can take someone.  Don't let em.

Learn.  Spread the word that these creeps exist.  If folks turn their back and blitely ignore the thug factor, it is at their own peril.

Perhaps my event serves as proof to a few at least.

Know these thugs are around.  Spread the word.  Be ready.  Let them know they don't have an easy path ahead.  Give em the hell they deserve.

Also, I'll be letting people know what developments come from my assault.  There will be some interesting revelations in a few weeks.

Watch your six.

Everything Is Going To Be OK

I watched The Beaver with Mel Gibson.

Whatever you think of Mel, this flick is pretty good.  Directed by Jodie Foster, it's well done all around.  It is a tale of descent into mental illness and denial with tragic then better results, in that people emerge from their problems facing things head on.

Rather than a critique, I suggest you get it and see for yourself.  It'll cost you about 90 minutes.

What caught my attention was the short sentence that is the title of this piece.

At the end there is a note about the value of truth.  One of the points is that 'everything is going to be ok' is misleading.  It is often not the case.

We cradle, hold tight, a child in our arms after something bad happens, whatever it may be.  It's a natural tendency to say everything will be ok.  We want it to be.  But we cannot take back whatever occurred.  All we can do is go forward.  I think that's what we really mean.

Things are going to shake us up, rock our world.  What does remain is being there.  We can't take back something bad.  We can be with people and help them through the aftermath.  We can rebuild.

Maybe, just maybe, everything will be ok from that point on.  It's likely to be an uphill battle however.

Facing problems including fears and dealing with them will point us in the direction of making it right.  Things can only be ok when we are indeed honest with ourselves and others.

It's true for kids, family, friends etal. 

It's true for this Constitutional Republic.

Forgiveness

It popularly means to overlook, let go, give up resentment.  It is a primary part of of many faiths/religions.  What does it mean?  I will tell you my view.

Mistakes are made, either by ourselves or others around us.  We can allow them to gnaw away at us.  We can obsess.  Then, we fall into either blaming other people or damning our circumstances.  Or we can let it go. 

That doesn't mean we actually forget.  We must remember or else how can we truly learn?  It's what we learn and how we deal with it. 

Maybe mistakes is too light a term.  Rape, assault, collectivism destroying the Republic are sins against humanity.  There are many more.  Cheating on many levels, lying and many more could paint a very dark picture. 

Should we understand these things, the good and bad of human condition?  Of course, for it's our nature to understand.

Should we limit this understanding?  Let me explain.

I was attacked a few weeks ago.  You can read about it under the post 'Mugged'  Three thugs, who were black, jumped me.  They shouted racial epithets.  What to do as a result?

There is the liberal bleeding heart answer which entails the 'woe is me' entitlement view that these guys were just acting out frustations because the system oppresses them.  That's crap.  Liberal/collectivist solutions exploit social malfunction and high jack it.  And all the social babble in the world isn't going to help you when three slugs are attempting to beat you up.

There is no excuse for such behavior.  Understanding it comes down to this:  There have always been predators who use said excuses to maraud.  They deserve punishment.  They respond only to 'stimuli', if I may use a psych term much abused by those who try to control us.

You see, there is understanding after all -s-. 

Can some people be helped?  I used to work on the street as a student minister.  Yes some can be helped to help themselves, if they are willing to do so.  There are some kids, criminals all, who have been turned away from that life.  But, some are hardwired.  And the way it's been ingrained as with gang society, there are some who, like child rapists, stay predators.

These asses would have been delighted if I had tried to 'reason' with them.  They would have laughed, in there minds denigrated me and after robbing me possibly killed me.  And btw, these mokes were not newbies, having long rap sheets.  And even if this were initiation, the result is the same.  For them it was jail.  It was almost death or at least incapacitation.

Monsters on all levels, from street thugs to those in 'high office' are the same.  They hide behind good intention.  Even those whose reasons are good, they are useful to maintain tyranny.  Or they are wiped out.  Like Mike Vanderboegh says, paraphrasing, that the idea of Gandhi and his notion of passive resistance would have floated down the Ganges with his bayoneted, beheaded corpse, if the Japanese had invaded India.

So, this post has evolved even as I write it.  It's become more than it was originally.  Let's cut to the chase.

Forgiveness to me is not excusing bad things.  It is simply not letting them get to you, eating you alive.

In that case, I may 'forgive' but I sure as hell will NOT forget.  I remember and will do what is best for me to go on living.  Wrong is wrong.  I will not let hatred control me.  But I will defend myself on all levels.

Problem solved?  Well life goes on and I hold up my head, which thankfully, is still attached to my body -s-.