responsibilty with reason

 I was very pleased that nothing bad happened at the rights rally in Richmond. The counter protestors decided it was wise to not show up and I agree with them wholeheartedly. There was a lot of firepower there and yes, there were some willing to use it. You can give credit to whomever you choose, makes no difference to me, I'm only concerned with the results. I think the point was made in regard to how many feel about the second amendment and any attempt by government to infringe upon that right. A great number of people were moved to participate in that rally and I'm certain a great deal more supported it. It does take a great deal of emotion to move folks into action. As I like to point out, emotion is a ardent motivator but seldom a good guide. Also, emotion is not the language of reason. That is the reason emotional speeches cause such a fuss. It matters little whether what the person is talking about is reasonable or not, it is the emotion that motivates. 

 Perhaps the greatest example of that was Hitler. That he was a motivator of emotions can't be denied. Indeed he roused an entire nation to act in the most unreasonable fashion imaginable. How did he manage to do that? It was simple really, the time was ripe, and he knew exactly what to say. The German people had lost WW1 and felt they weren't given a fair shake at the treaty of Versailles. That treaty imposed very harsh terms. Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war, they were to pay reparations to several countries, their army and navy were severely restricted leaving them with the inability to defend themselves against almost any country, and they lost a great deal of colonial territory. The economy was decimated,  the population poor, hungry and most of all, humiliated! 

 It was the feeling of being humiliated, indeed a feeling that they had been treated unfairly, that allowed Hitler to gain control. It was emotion! There was nothing reasonable, nothing fair, nothing but the rage of Hitler that propelled all of that. The people began surrendering their power to government. Soon the government had all the power, the upper hand and it was too late. It was go along with the government or die! The citizens had been disarmed beginning in the mid 1930's and in ten years time became defenseless against the government. Removing the means to resist coupled with the rhetoric that the German people were superior to all other races created that firestorm. 

 The second amendment was designed to preclude that from happening in America, Hitler wasn't the first to use that tactic and the founding fathers were very much aware of that and feared it. That was the sole purpose of that amendment. It wasn't so much to give the citizen a right to own arms as it was to ensure the citizens could defend themselves against government! In short if the government is to be armed, so too must the citizenry. It is a check on government. The rally in Richmond was to let government know that the citizens will not allow the government to disarm us. I believe the message was clear. We the People are the Government, not the bureaucrats in Washington. They are there to represent us, not to rule us. We the People will not be disarmed, made inferior to the government. 

 Those opposing Trump and his presidency are using similar tactics. There are those insisting the United States is to blame for everything from climate change to world hunger! They are appealing to emotions! There is little to no reason involved. There is only the constant insistence the " we " have to do something. What are they proposing? They are proposing that we surrender! That's what they are asking for in a nutshell. Surrender and allow government to make all the decisions. It's a reversal of what Hitler was doing. Hitler was telling his people that they were superior to all others. Those opposing Trump are telling us we are inferior to everyone else! That's why we should just surrender  and give everything we own to others! We shouldn't expect others to be held accountable for their actions! Forgive the criminals, give them your money, your goods, your property and they won't rob and steal from you! Let the government handle all of that. If we take all the guns away no one will shoot anyone, well except for the government, to keep order you know. 

 Emotions are ardent motivators but seldom good guides! That is a simple statement of fact. I may feel emotional about all the animals in that shelter, but that doesn't mean I should bring them all home. It also doesn't mean I should impose that upon you. How many have suffered from unrequited love? Love is not based in reason, but emotion. That's why it can't be legislated. You can not legislate emotions! That's a fact that I don't believe anyone could argue otherwise. I can however, with sufficient force, make you do whatever I choose. That is, if I can render you defenseless. If I can make you surrender. 

 There are those proposing that we legislate emotion! That is as unrealistic, unreasonable, as you can get. But you can get people to believe that it is possible if you can get them emotional enough. Religious belief has been used over the centuries as an emotional motivator. Cultural pride has been used as an emotional motivator. The promise of wealth has been used as an emotional motivator. And what emotion is being used today? Empathy. We are being told that if we don't surrender our arms, our goods, our money and our freedom it is because we lack empathy! We can all co-exist equally if we all empathize with one another! That's the line and I would have to say it is true. If we all empathized with one another that would indeed be the result. Is it reasonable? No, it isn't reasonable to expect that at all. In all of human history that has never been a reasonable expectation. I know, you can cry about it, but it won't change it. You can't legislate empathy because? It's an emotion.

 I don't believe I'm alone when I say we need a return to common sense. Acting in a reasonable fashion is not a lack of empathy, it's well, common sense. Without some standard, some restraint, a society can not exist. That is as simple as it gets. There are behaviors that are counter productive to society and those behaviors must be addressed, not dismissed. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Empathy is not blindly accepting the feelings of others. Empathy is understanding, not  acceptance. I can understand why my children want to eat that candy, I can share that feeling with them, but that doesn't mean I should allow them to do so. No, I have to make a reasonable choice. I have to tell them no.  It's no different than if they were to lie on the ground and pound their fists or stomp their feet. Yes, I can understand why you want that toy, I can even share that feeing of wanting something, but that doesn't mean you should get the toy! A lack of empathy? No, it is not, it is being a reasonable person. Yes the child may call me mean but I can't react to emotion, I have a responsibility to react with reason. 

 You know maybe I have been wrong. Maybe we don't need a return to common sense. Maybe what we need is a return to, responsibilty with reason.  Maybe we need to just start acting like adults. Quit with all this dreaming of utopia and work on building our nation as it was envisioned. A land of opportunity, not a land of handouts! A land where it is recognized that all men are created equally! We were headed that way. Strides, big strides were made. It was working well. Then those that achieved equality, got what they were guaranteed and indeed what was promised, decided that being equal wasn't so good after all. Equality meant being treated the same! And the bottom line becomes. It isn't fair! Equality isn't fair, and it isn't fair because you aren't being empathic. And because you are not empathic I should control you! I'll start by disarming you. " The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself. " " Ridicule is mans most potent weapon. " Know who said these things? Saul Alinsky, rules for radicals. If you are hearing these things just remember where they are coming from. That's your enemy.