Read on Twitter
π
ππ₯π₯ π
π¨π« ππ§π ππ‘π’π§π
We've all seen the variously-attributed quote:
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
Most men and women live their lives and die without ever having stood for something.
Fewer still have fallen for that one thing.
1/
We've all seen the variously-attributed quote:
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
Most men and women live their lives and die without ever having stood for something.
Fewer still have fallen for that one thing.
1/
A couple days ago, someone on Twitter was able to get under my skin unexpectedly.
Whether trolling or out of pedantic sincerity, he accused me of pedophilic urges, to which I reacted viscerally and openly.
Now at a distance from the emotion of the moment, I consider why.
2/
Whether trolling or out of pedantic sincerity, he accused me of pedophilic urges, to which I reacted viscerally and openly.
Now at a distance from the emotion of the moment, I consider why.
2/
I'm not hyper-emotional by nature. I've abused the term "equanimity" as if I had a patent on it.
Self-control is something I've worked diligently to attain.
And yet, when presented with a moment to retain my poise, I lost my temper instead.
3/
Self-control is something I've worked diligently to attain.
And yet, when presented with a moment to retain my poise, I lost my temper instead.
3/
Early this morning while enjoying my coffee and reading, it hit me.
He triggered something in me that is my most core value - defense of innocent Life.
I've written at length about the time I failed to save a woman's life, and my feelings on fatherhood. Two sides, one coin.
4/
He triggered something in me that is my most core value - defense of innocent Life.
I've written at length about the time I failed to save a woman's life, and my feelings on fatherhood. Two sides, one coin.
4/
A man is not one who is never roused to anger. That's a passive, weak person.
A Man is one who knows exactly what he stands for - those few essential principles for which he'd channel the fury of a thousand storms to defend.
Beyond that, though, is that one thing...
5/
A Man is one who knows exactly what he stands for - those few essential principles for which he'd channel the fury of a thousand storms to defend.
Beyond that, though, is that one thing...
5/
That one principle for which a man would die, or kill.
Paradoxically, for me, that principle is Life.
Civilization cannot exist in a state of primal, Hobbesian warre.
Any doctrine, ideology, or rationale that denies the essentialism of individual Life, is my ENEMY.
6/
Paradoxically, for me, that principle is Life.
Civilization cannot exist in a state of primal, Hobbesian warre.
Any doctrine, ideology, or rationale that denies the essentialism of individual Life, is my ENEMY.
6/
Life is π¦πππ₯π’π¦ππ‘ππ§.
It is the one thing we have that once violated or taken, cannot be undone.
As humans, we are biologically wired to seek preservation of life.
It is both practical evolution and spiritual.
7/
It is the one thing we have that once violated or taken, cannot be undone.
As humans, we are biologically wired to seek preservation of life.
It is both practical evolution and spiritual.
7/
Notice that I deliberately conflate the VIOLATION of one's Life with the TAKING of it.
There is a spark within each of us - divinely-given, but fragile. This spark is what makes us uniquely "us". It is Life.
Death is but one way to snuff that spark.
8/
There is a spark within each of us - divinely-given, but fragile. This spark is what makes us uniquely "us". It is Life.
Death is but one way to snuff that spark.
8/
As we grow, we convert experience and knowledge gained into maturity.
From there, we assemble maturity and fortitude in order to fashion armor for that spark of Life.
The more experience, the better equipped one is to live his or her best life.
9/
From there, we assemble maturity and fortitude in order to fashion armor for that spark of Life.
The more experience, the better equipped one is to live his or her best life.
9/
Thus, experience is irreducibly tied to age.
Every civilization has recognized that children are uniquely vulnerable explicitly because they do not have the benefit of experience or strength.
Their spark is unguarded.
10/
Every civilization has recognized that children are uniquely vulnerable explicitly because they do not have the benefit of experience or strength.
Their spark is unguarded.
10/
And so, the men and women of the Tribe place a high value on protecting, nurturing, and training the children to navigate a life of difficult choices and pain.
They also teach those children how to find great joy, and seek fulfillment through experience and relationships.
11/
They also teach those children how to find great joy, and seek fulfillment through experience and relationships.
11/
The unguarded spark of a child's Life is subject to exponential effects because of the compounding effect of time.
A trauma, or positive act, early in a child's life sets a course that only becomes clear in the rearview mirror.
One point, many horizons.
12/
A trauma, or positive act, early in a child's life sets a course that only becomes clear in the rearview mirror.
One point, many horizons.
12/
It is proper raising and integration of children to adulthood that preserves a civilization.
The Life of each one is inextricably joined to the lives of all, present and future.
Violating, or eliminating, that spark is an act of generational evil.
13/
The Life of each one is inextricably joined to the lives of all, present and future.
Violating, or eliminating, that spark is an act of generational evil.
13/
It has been said that we live in dark times, though to some extent every generation believes that their time is worse than the one prior.
However, there has been perhaps no moment in our history where children are being so deliberately exploited to serve adult desires.
14/
However, there has been perhaps no moment in our history where children are being so deliberately exploited to serve adult desires.
14/
Sexual trafficking.
Indoctrination into transgressive agendas.
Manufacturing slave labor.
Suicide bombers.
Soldiers.
Each carefully designed to leverage the innocence and youth of a child to maximize the outcome.
15/
Indoctrination into transgressive agendas.
Manufacturing slave labor.
Suicide bombers.
Soldiers.
Each carefully designed to leverage the innocence and youth of a child to maximize the outcome.
15/
Men and women with half a brain or even a fraction of their soul can see this and call it for what it is:
IRREDEEMABLE EVIL.
But, there is a subset even of our "enlightened" society that is not just blind to the evil, but active apologists for it.
16/
IRREDEEMABLE EVIL.
But, there is a subset even of our "enlightened" society that is not just blind to the evil, but active apologists for it.
16/
The thing about relativism, as a practice, is that logic and rationality taken to the extremes can justify any sort of harm.
Who is more culpable: the man who acts out of evil, or the bystander who intellectually masturbates over it to justify his own inaction and weakness?
17/
Who is more culpable: the man who acts out of evil, or the bystander who intellectually masturbates over it to justify his own inaction and weakness?
17/
I have skin in this game. The circumstances are not for disclosure, but twice I have stood to the defense of exploited minors at great risk.
Further, I know many teenagers and young adults who carry their shattered psyche behind a twisted smile.
Lives extinguished, all.
18/
Further, I know many teenagers and young adults who carry their shattered psyche behind a twisted smile.
Lives extinguished, all.
18/
It is not a desire to be a hero that compelled me to take action on behalf of those children.
It was never conscious - it simply was the only thing to do.
That is the product a young man who was taught by his patriarchs that women and children are to be protected.
19/
It was never conscious - it simply was the only thing to do.
That is the product a young man who was taught by his patriarchs that women and children are to be protected.
19/
This is that ONE THING for me.
My weakness, in a sense, but also an invitation to destruction for anyone who commits this sort of harm within my reach.
And I know that in the moment, I will not be standing against it alone as I have twice done before.
20/
My weakness, in a sense, but also an invitation to destruction for anyone who commits this sort of harm within my reach.
And I know that in the moment, I will not be standing against it alone as I have twice done before.
20/
The Father above has granted me the gift of my Tribe in my more recent years.
Men like me (and our women) who have zero tolerance for harming the innocent.
People trained in the art of violence, but also family-oriented.
21/
Men like me (and our women) who have zero tolerance for harming the innocent.
People trained in the art of violence, but also family-oriented.
21/
As a corollary, we also despise those pathetic, contemptible men and women who refuse to see evil in its proper context.
They are as complicit and culpable as the perpetrators themselves - hyenas run in packs for a reason.
22/
They are as complicit and culpable as the perpetrators themselves - hyenas run in packs for a reason.
22/
They weaken us as a civilization by acting as lobbyists for the scum of the earth.
It was the combination of my own experience, unpreparedness for trollish behavior, and deep-seated hatred for harm of innocents that led to my anger.
Apologetics for evil must be called out.
23/
It was the combination of my own experience, unpreparedness for trollish behavior, and deep-seated hatred for harm of innocents that led to my anger.
Apologetics for evil must be called out.
23/
"Stand for something, or fall for anything."
There is no consequence which I am not prepared to endure in order to stand for defense of Life, especially that of the innocent.
And I am grateful to know so many people who can say the same.
Blessings to all of you.
24/
There is no consequence which I am not prepared to endure in order to stand for defense of Life, especially that of the innocent.
And I am grateful to know so many people who can say the same.
Blessings to all of you.
24/
