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DesignsByEve

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Reason and Force

10 min read
My husband found this posted as a comment on an article on Yahoo, and we both found it very well written and thought out.  I take no credit for it, and would post a link to the original article, but we can't seem to find the it now.  Found it! news.yahoo.com/white-house-tal…  Annnnd did a search for the first line and found that it comes from a blog written back in 2007.... munchkinwrangler.wordpress.com…

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Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.



The greatest treasures you can have, are good friends, and I have some of the best!
:iconvanesse: :iconrozbeans: :iconvexiphne: :iconadiene: :iconrainfeatherpearl: :iconmimicat: :iconsabreyn: :iconjohnkohlepp: :icontamaelia: :iconlillaanya: :iconparrotdolphin:




The following are some of my pics that use some of my backgrounds available at VAMP3d.com.


These are from my DbE: Mystical Chambers pack-
Loved by the Dead by DesignsByEve Mortianna- Blood Rites by DesignsByEve

These are from my DbE: Fire and Ice pack-
The Ice Mage by DesignsByEve Fire with Fire by DesignsByEve The Vargamor by DesignsByEve
Warm Welcome by DesignsByEve Cold Hearted by DesignsByEve
These are from my DbE: Dungeons pack-
The Escape by DesignsByEve Sir Edward by DesignsByEve Dinner at Deathfist by DesignsByEve
Thief in the Night by DesignsByEve

Mature Content

Waiting by DesignsByEve





:icontac-club: :iconvampyrearmy:



Just in case anyone else wants to spoil me:
My Renderosity Wishlist: www.renderosity.com/homepage.p…
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In

-click banner to be taken to the my store at Renderosity-

From now until Monday, save 25% off my entire store at Rendo!  Take advantage of another 25% off your entire order,by using the coupon offered in the latest newsletter from Rendo.  

Coupon info pasted below from newsletter:
From now through Tuesday January 31st at 11:59pm (cst), if you make a purchase of $40.00 or more you will be entitled to receive 25% off that order! Apply coupon code* 012712EMB25P40 to your next qualifying order for instant savings.
This coupon IS VALID on regular, sale & clearance items.


A few of my latest releases, click the thumb to go directly to the product.

My second set of magical Photoshop styles, this time with a darker twist.  Look for the original It's Magic if you prefer bright and cheery glows!


The latest in my Inspirations series, created specifically for creating promotional art, but useful for so much more.  You get backgrounds and styles that can be used as is, or customized as little or as much as you want, to help make your products stand out in the crowd.  Be sure to check the rest of the Inspirations!


A set of 29 Photoshop styles and 10 seamless tiles, all with a winter holiday theme.  Of course the plain colors could be used all year round as well.



The greatest treasures you can have, are good friends, and I have some of the best!
:iconvanesse: :iconrozbeans: :iconvexiphne: :iconadiene: :iconrainfeatherpearl: :iconmimicat: :iconsabreyn: :iconjohnkohlepp: :icontamaelia: :iconlillaanya: :iconparrotdolphin:




The following are some of my pics that use some of my backgrounds available at VAMP3d.com.


These are from my DbE: Mystical Chambers pack-
Loved by the Dead by DesignsByEve Mortianna- Blood Rites by DesignsByEve

These are from my DbE: Fire and Ice pack-
The Ice Mage by DesignsByEve Fire with Fire by DesignsByEve The Vargamor by DesignsByEve
Warm Welcome by DesignsByEve Cold Hearted by DesignsByEve
These are from my DbE: Dungeons pack-
The Escape by DesignsByEve Sir Edward by DesignsByEve Dinner at Deathfist by DesignsByEve
Thief in the Night by DesignsByEve

Mature Content

Waiting by DesignsByEve





:icontac-club: :iconvampyrearmy:



Just in case anyone else wants to spoil me:
My Renderosity Wishlist: www.renderosity.com/homepage.p…
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In

October Sale

7 min read
For the entire month of October, my entire store at Rendo www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/in… is on sale for 30% off!  Take advantage of the current coupon www.renderosity.com/mod/emarke… for another 15% off as well.  There is also a Best of Fall Sale www.renderosity.com/best-of-fa… going on at Rendo as well from now until October 16th, for 40% off a variety of items from different vendors, including my latest, Hallowed Touch www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/db… .  Enjoy the savings and have a great October!



The greatest treasures you can have, are good friends, and I have some of the best!
:iconvanesse: :iconrozbeans: :iconvexiphne: :iconadiene: :iconrainfeatherpearl: :iconmimicat: :iconsabreyn: :iconjohnkohlepp: :icontamaelia: :iconlillaanya: :iconparrotdolphin:




The following are some of my pics that use some of my backgrounds available at VAMP3d.com.


These are from my DbE: Mystical Chambers pack-
Loved by the Dead by DesignsByEve Mortianna- Blood Rites by DesignsByEve

These are from my DbE: Fire and Ice pack-
The Ice Mage by DesignsByEve Fire with Fire by DesignsByEve The Vargamor by DesignsByEve
Warm Welcome by DesignsByEve Cold Hearted by DesignsByEve
These are from my DbE: Dungeons pack-
The Escape by DesignsByEve Sir Edward by DesignsByEve Dinner at Deathfist by DesignsByEve
Thief in the Night by DesignsByEve

Mature Content

Waiting by DesignsByEve





:icontac-club: :iconvampyrearmy:



Just in case anyone else wants to spoil me:
My Renderosity Wishlist: www.renderosity.com/homepage.p…
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Update: Last day to sign up or fill in your placeholder!  Sign up will be locked by Midnight EST tonight.   Assignments go out by tomorrow afternoon!

Sign ups are now open for the latest art exchange over at The Angry Crayon!  See www.theangrycrayon.com/f/forum…! for more details and www.theangrycrayon.com/f/threa… to sign up.  
Sign up from September 3rd through 17th.
Assignments will be handed out September 18th.
Turn in day will be Sunday, October 30th.



The greatest treasures you can have, are good friends, and I have some of the best!
:iconvanesse: :iconrozbeans: :iconvexiphne: :iconadiene: :iconrainfeatherpearl: :iconmimicat: :iconsabreyn: :iconjohnkohlepp: :icontamaelia: :iconlillaanya: :iconparrotdolphin:




The following are some of my pics that use some of my backgrounds available at VAMP3d.com.


These are from my DbE: Mystical Chambers pack-
Loved by the Dead by DesignsByEve Mortianna- Blood Rites by DesignsByEve

These are from my DbE: Fire and Ice pack-
The Ice Mage by DesignsByEve Fire with Fire by DesignsByEve The Vargamor by DesignsByEve
Warm Welcome by DesignsByEve Cold Hearted by DesignsByEve
These are from my DbE: Dungeons pack-
The Escape by DesignsByEve Sir Edward by DesignsByEve Dinner at Deathfist by DesignsByEve
Thief in the Night by DesignsByEve

Mature Content

Waiting by DesignsByEve





:icontac-club: :iconvampyrearmy:



Just in case anyone else wants to spoil me:
My Renderosity Wishlist: www.renderosity.com/homepage.p…
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In

  


  

My latest product has just hit the Renderosity Marketplace!  (Click thumbnail above to go directly to Ethereal Touch) From NOW until next SATURDAY the 9th, save 30% off my entire store there.  Use the current Rendo coupon this weekend for even more savings!

  From now through Monday July 4th at 11:59pm (cdt) you'll have the opportunity to save 20% on your next purchase of $35 or more. All you have to do is enter the coupon code below at checkout, click apply!


070111BANG20P35






The greatest treasures you can have, are good friends, and I have some of the best!
:iconvanesse: :iconrozbeans: :iconvexiphne: :iconadiene: :iconrainfeatherpearl: :iconmimicat: :iconsabreyn: :iconjohnkohlepp: :icontamaelia: :iconlillaanya: :iconparrotdolphin:




The following are some of my pics that use some of my backgrounds available at VAMP3d.com.


These are from my DbE: Mystical Chambers pack-
Loved by the Dead by DesignsByEve Mortianna- Blood Rites by DesignsByEve

These are from my DbE: Fire and Ice pack-
The Ice Mage by DesignsByEve Fire with Fire by DesignsByEve The Vargamor by DesignsByEve
Warm Welcome by DesignsByEve Cold Hearted by DesignsByEve
These are from my DbE: Dungeons pack-
The Escape by DesignsByEve Sir Edward by DesignsByEve Dinner at Deathfist by DesignsByEve
Thief in the Night by DesignsByEve

Mature Content

Waiting by DesignsByEve





:icontac-club: :iconvampyrearmy:



Just in case anyone else wants to spoil me:
My Renderosity Wishlist: www.renderosity.com/homepage.p…
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Featured

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October Sale by DesignsByEve, journal

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