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Orrex

(63,259 posts)

7. Martin Luther King Jr. maintained a substantial arsenal of firearms

Wed Aug 16, 2017, 07:24 AM

Aug 2017

Last edited Wed Aug 16, 2017, 08:56 AM - Edit history (1)

And who can blame him?

Although he rejected the initiation of violence, he wasn't an idiot, and he didn't object to the idea of violent self defense when needed.

I do not find absolute pacifism to be morally laudable or, frankly, realistic.

If someone is about to kill my family and me in that order, is it morally superior of me to sit patiently while it happens, if I have the means to stop it?

The original Nazis would not have been shamed into submission by others' pacifism. Neither will the current crop.

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Non-violent tactics and moral high-ground [View all] summer_in_TX Aug 2017 OP

Yes, lets learn the lessons of history. Eko Aug 2017 #1

There was considerable violence in Germany before Hitler marylandblue Aug 2017 #2

No. They didn't do the same thing. If, when 100 nazis show up, we show up with 5000, and Squinch Aug 2017 #5

Showing up with 65,853,516 against their 62,984,825 put a Nazi sympathizer in the Whitehouse Orrex Aug 2017 #12

You know that is a silly analogy. Squinch Aug 2017 #13

Yes, because I know that dogmatic insistence upon non-violence is silly Orrex Aug 2017 #14

So I guess Dr. King was just a silly guy. And Ghandi was a joke, huh? Squinch Aug 2017 #16

That is your claim, not mine Orrex Aug 2017 #20

You keep saying that King was not non-violent. He never acted against his non-violence message. Squinch Aug 2017 #21

Why did he maintain an arsenal? For hunting? Orrex Aug 2017 #24

Did Dr. King ever shoot anyone? Did he ever stray from his message of non-violence? Squinch Aug 2017 #26

The question is not "did he" but rather "would he have?" Orrex Aug 2017 #30

So, you seem to be saying that King's non-violence was a show, and Squinch Aug 2017 #31

That's clearly and certainly not what I'm saying. Orrex Aug 2017 #34

You know MLK and Malcolm moved closer together in their views. brush Aug 2017 #29

You don't turn the other cheek to Nazis who are determined to kill you dalton99a Aug 2017 #3

That all sounds wonderful but it's not the same Phoenix61 Aug 2017 #4

What you are describing about the image of liberals is a good description of the image of Squinch Aug 2017 #6

Martin Luther King Jr. maintained a substantial arsenal of firearms Orrex Aug 2017 #7

+1 dalton99a Aug 2017 #10

Did he ever violently defend himself? Did he pull one of those guns in Selma? Did they Squinch Aug 2017 #15

I agree wholeheartedly. kentuck Aug 2017 #8

While I can appreciate the sentiment leftynyc Aug 2017 #9

Exactly. If you advocate non-violent protests at all times against Nazis KitSileya Aug 2017 #36

Yup... Adrahil Aug 2017 #38

That's why they were so happy with leftynyc Aug 2017 #41

To quote Stokely Carmichael, Nonviolence only works if your enemy has a conscience. backscatter712 Aug 2017 #11

Who turned the tide? Was it Charmichael or King? There is no question that violence is justified Squinch Aug 2017 #17

"Nonviolence only works if your enemy has a conscience." workinclasszero Aug 2017 #19

We aren't talking about the Nazi's conscience, we are trying to get HopeAgain Aug 2017 #27

Exactly. summer_in_TX Aug 2017 #42

No offense, but you sound like Trump leftstreet Aug 2017 #18

That is a horribly offensive thing to say to that poster. "No offense but" makes it all the Squinch Aug 2017 #23

No, it's not leftstreet Aug 2017 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author jmg257 Aug 2017 #22

Don't confuse nonviolence with refusal to defend yourself Lee-Lee Aug 2017 #28

The tide of public opinion is already against these fucksticks Egnever Aug 2017 #32

Non-violence is a POLITICAL tactic and only for the brave marylandblue Aug 2017 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author jmg257 Aug 2017 #35

Of course its tragic, and I am not brave enough marylandblue Aug 2017 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author jmg257 Aug 2017 #39

Non-violence is an outstanding principle, when used by masses MineralMan Aug 2017 #40