PHILOSOPHICAL CONVERSATIONS.

I HAVE GREAT PHILOSOPHICAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MY SON FREQUENTLY, AND OFTEN TIMES I PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, TO OFFER UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT, OR PLAY THE MIDDLE OF FIELD, GOING BACK AND FORTH.  I DO THIS OFTEN SO THAT HE, A.) LEARNS HOW TO DEBATE BETTER, AND, B.) SO, THAT HE DOESN'T GROW UP SO CLOSED MINDED.  WE DO THIS OFTEN, HE'S QUITE INTELLIGENT, AND, I'LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU I'M DUMB AS A BAG OF HAMMERS.  MOST TIMES, I'M JUST WINGIN' IT.  SO, THE TOPIC OF VIOLENCE COMES UP, WHICH WE TALK ABOUT THIS FREQUENTLY, BECAUSE HE IS A PACIFIST, EVEN THOUGH HE'S QUITE STRONG AND KNOWS HOW TO THROW A PUNCH,  AND A LITTLE JIU-JITSU.  SO, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SUPPORT VIOLENCE ON ANY LEVEL, HE IS AGAINST IT, BUT, I ALWAYS SIT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE. 

THE ARGUMENT, FROM HIS VIEWPOINT, IS USUALLY THAT VIOLENCE IS UNNECESSARY AND WE HAVE EVOLVED BEYOND THAT POINT.  VIOLENCE TO HIM, IS ARCHAIC AND SOMEWHAT NEANDERTHAL-ISH, BECAUSE, WE HAVE LEARNED DIPLOMACY AND OTHER WAYS TO AVOID CONFLICT.  MEANWHILE, MY ARGUMENT IS, AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THAT, VIOLENCE IS COMPLETELY NECESSARY.  IT IS A NECESSARY TOOL, IN OUR SOCIETY.  EVEN, IF WE ARE AVOIDING VIOLENCE AT ALL COSTS, THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS STILL THERE, AND THAT IS WHAT FORCES US TO SIT BACK AND DETERMINE WHETHER WE WANT TO PROCEED OR NOT.  SO, I GUESS THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH WOULD BE, THAT VIOLENCE IS ALWAYS NECESSARY, WHETHER THE ACT OR THE THREAT,  IT IS USEFUL.  FOR INSTANCE, WE BELIEVE, THAT THE WORLD CAN BE CHANGED THRU DIPLOMACY, OR POLITICS, BUT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT REVOLUTIONARY REBELLIOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN THE THINGS TO REALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.  MOST OF THOSE ACTS HAVE BEEN VIOLENT, AND, SOMETIMES JUSTIFIABLY SO.  NOW, I DON'T ADVOCATE UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE, I ONLY ADVOCATE THE TRULY NECESSARY LAST RESORT, WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE COULD VIOLENCE, AND THIS IS PURELY FROM A PHILOSOPHICAL STANDPOINT.  I BELIEVE, WE SHOULD AVOID CONFLICT AT ALL COSTS, AND ALWAYS STRIVE FOR PEACE, BUT, IT IS OFTEN THE THOUGHT THAT VIOLENCE WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP, THAT HELPS KEEP IT AT BAY.  YOUR THOUGHTS?   -  925