IDEALS ARE PEACEFUL, HISTORY IS VIOLENT
By Vincent Lyn
“Civilization is in danger when those who have never known war forget its horrors.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
Ideologies, particularly political ones, may seem like abstract debates in conversation, but when put into practice, they always lead to violence and devastation.
I recently watched the movie Fury, which is set during the final days of WWII. Without going into too much detail, the story follows a battle-hardened tank commander who tries to get his inexperienced new recruit to grasp the harsh realities of war. The young private, completely overwhelmed by a world so alien to the one he knew, shuts down and even wishes for death rather than confronting the brutal truth. At one point, the commander bluntly states, “Ideals are peaceful, history is violent,” to drive home the fact that war is a merciless, unforgiving place. In the heat of battle, enemies will try to kill you, and the notion of “getting along” simply doesn’t exist. You can’t afford to refuse to fight, because if you don’t kill them, they’ll kill you.
For what it’s worth, Fury is a very good film if you’re into war movies, but there’s one line, apparently improvised by Brad Pitt, that really stood out to me. It serves as a reminder of two things. First, I prepare for tough times because history has a habit of repeating itself. It’s unrealistic to expect good times to last forever, and history is filled with examples to support that cautious mindset. We’ve enjoyed stability for far too long. Second, throughout history, violence has been a constant feature of human behavior. It’s ingrained in us, and in certain scenarios, it’s almost inevitable. If there ever were a moment to anticipate violence, it would be during a major collapse, like a grid failure or a TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World as We Know It) event.
Having lived in various parts of the world — growing up in England and living in Hong Kong, where owning a firearm is nearly impossible, and spending time in America — I’ve come to strongly support the use of firearms for self-defense. I understand that some of you may find this view unacceptable. There are those who believe firearms should be banned entirely, others who think only the police or military should be armed, and still others who argue that weapons are too dangerous for civilians, assuming anyone without training will just get themselves killed. Some even suggest avoiding confrontation at all costs, as if swimming out to sea is a viable escape plan. To me, these perspectives ignore the lessons of history and leave people, especially preppers, vulnerable. That kind of thinking could lead to more harm, even the loss of lives, when confronting real threats. Evil exists in the world, and it rarely goes down without a fight. While some advocate for fleeing thousands of miles away as a solution, that’s an incredibly naive stance, assuming everyone has the means and resources to do so, which is far from the reality most people face.
“Why can’t we all just get along?” Rodney King’s famous plea comes to mind whenever we discuss defending ourselves from violence. Of course, it would be wonderful if everyone could resolve conflicts through calm, reasonable discussions, compromise, and perhaps even a handshake or a thank-you note. But that’s pure idealism. In reality, compromise and agreements are only possible because societal order exists. When there are clear consequences for one’s actions, backed by a legal system, people are more inclined to cooperate. When individuals can voice their grievances without fear of retaliation or harm, others tend to behave better. Remove that safety net of societal structure, and we quickly revert to a more primal, aggressive way of dealing with disputes.
I understand that, due to location or personal background, some people may not have the ability to own firearms. I also recognize that the average person with minimal training is no match for a well-coordinated group of mercenaries. And I completely agree — a single individual with a gun won’t last long in a standoff against a determined mob. But that’s not the focus of this article. The point I’m trying to make is that if you don’t prepare for the possibility of violence, you may find yourself helpless when it happens. Yes, defending yourself could cost you your life, but death is something we all face eventually. I’m not suggesting you rush into a hopeless fight, but if you want a real chance of surviving in a violent world, you need to level the playing field. Sure, you might lose a gunfight, but hiding in a closet with a bat when armed intruders break down the door guarantees you won’t survive.
Running away from a fight can only work in the short term. If you can escape a gunfight, that’s likely the smartest option. But what happens if you can’t run? What if there’s nowhere left to go? What if you sail away, believing you’ve outsmarted everyone, only for pirates to take over your boat because they outgun you? In a moment of pure horror, if your wife is being assaulted in front of you, would you wish then that you had at least tried to defend her?
I realize this post may offend some of you, and I’m not trying to convince those who believe “I’d rather die than live in a world like that.” Some will simply disagree, and I understand — that’s part of human nature. But if you would truly rather die than defend yourself, I believe that’s exactly what will happen. And if that’s your mindset, I have to ask — why are you preparing for survival in the first place?
At a recent gun show I attended in Florida, I was struck by the massive turnout. It feels like there’s a gun show every month now, and each one seems more crowded than the last. As I pulled into the packed parking lot, I couldn’t help but notice that people seem to have an instinctive sense that history is echoing once again — just as it has countless times before, and likely with some degree of violence.
There’s an old saying: “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” Personally, I think planning for the worst makes far more sense. In short, planning is about thinking and strategizing, while preparing is about doing and gathering what’s needed to implement the plan. I’ve said it before — prepping is fundamentally pro-life, because at its core, it’s about wanting to survive. Preppers want to live long enough to see their children grow up, get married, and have grandchildren. We all want peace and harmony, but there have always been — and always will be — those determined to kill and destroy.
So unless you’re ready to give up, wouldn’t it make sense to prepare for violence as a means of defense? Shouldn’t we plan for the possibility that survival may require facing violence head-on?
We prepare for the existence of these people because if we want to survive, we have no choice.
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
Vincent Lyn
CEO & Founder of We Can Save Children
Deputy Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations (ECOSOC)
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts Lyn