|
|
By Bradley J. Steiner, American Combato
The NY Daily News online carried a story back in December (Christmas Eve, in fact) about a man who, in a bar fight, punched another. It was an imbecilic, meaningless argument, of course. The serious, civilized, intellectual discussions take place in settings other than neighborhood taverns. In any case, the recipient of the punch died.
Reaction of the impulse-driven, out-of-control piece of sh–t who killed him? “I feel terrible.”
Gee whiz.
Personally, we would like to see the killer hanged. Who gives a rat’s ass damn if the bastard “feels terrible” or not? If your reaction to verbal disagreement is to punch someone, then you do not belong in civilized society. And that means, as we see it, if by some tragic error you happen to already be amongst the civilized and you give vent to your physical rage, then it’s time for you to be put down like the mad dog you are.
The killer was 47 years old. The victim was 49 years old. No one can argue that these men—theoretically, anyway—knew better than to physically fight over some trivial nonsense involving a girlfriend (the”reason” for this insanity, according to the news report we read).
If toddlers in a sandbox become hostile and aggressive over a toy, the mothers can separate the two-year-olds and we can allow for a state of immaturity as being responsible for the misbehavior. But when anyone over the age of six resorts to violence outside any need for self-defense, there is a serious problem present that requires immediate correction by adults. And after the individual reaches the age of 10 or 11 and is inclined to physically attack others, well… we’d just as soon see him excised from human society.
People seem to not get a simple fact: That is, actions have consequences; and the actor is responsible for the consequences of his actions.
Above all, we want YOU to get it. As an enthusiast of close combat and self-defense skills you have a serious, permanent responsibility to avoid violence whenever possible. You are not a “sportsman”, and physically damaging another person, except in self-defense, cannot be written off as a competitive event during which an accident occurred!
If a segment of the so-called “martial arts community” chooses to follow that which we, personally, find shameful and dumb (i.e. MMA/UFC type brawling) that’s OK… so long as these people involve no one beside themselves. But anyone who carries an inclination to be a goddamn social nuisance and danger outside the competitive arena and participates in violent encounters is little more than a dangerous savage whom the rest of us have a right to be free of.
“Tough guys” end up in hospitals, prisons, and cemeteries, where they rightfully belong. The unfortunate thing is when they injure innocent people before ending up where they belong.
Martial skills certainly should be held in rigorous check until or unless one finds oneself or one’s loved ones in danger. Then, do whatever it takes, whatever you can, and however you wish, to deal with an unprovoked threat to innocent life and limb.
Whatever happens to some out-of-control-subhuman predator who decides to victimize an innocent person is unimportant. To hell with him. He doesn’t belong on earth, anyway. But keep your hands and your temper in check when the normal vicissitudes of day-to-day existence cause friction, disagreement, and irritation with others. That’s life. Keep your hands to yourself.
We believe and teach that violence outside of fighting sports is unacceptable, criminal human conduct. Because tragedies such as the one described at the beginning of this little article occur often, there should be very, very serious consequences for anyone who resorts to violence outside the clear and present need to take self-defense action. That there often are not such serious consequences accounts for why violent human garbage continues to terrorize and to injure normal human beings.
Actions have consequences. The person who unjustifiably offers you violence ought properly to bring hell down upon himself; the appropriate consequences for his particular actions. His injuries are the result of his actions, and—we hope you’ll agree—to hell with him.