On the Destruction of Property to Affect Change:

[Fantastic Anarchist]

36. Thank you for understanding!

I've gotten much flack in bars and on here at DU.



I'm not saying I want the violence, or that it's even particularly needed in this case (I'm not there), or that there is never any instance where violence should be used, or that violence should be used in every instance! Nothing is absolute. There are varying shades even within the color gray!

I am saying that I understand that when people are pushed to a point where all other options have been exhausted, if they do resort to violence. Nothing wrong with trying to understand it.

I'm pro-peace, for instance, but I'm not a pacifist. If a situation gets to a point where I have to protect myself, my family, or even someone I don't know, I will use violence.

I must say, though, that I do lament innocent civilians and owners of community based stores. On a moral basis, it's repugnant to me; on a pragmatic basis, it's counter-productive. I would probably ask that if they need to destroy property, they direct that destruction to the forces of power - corporate buildings for example. I'm not advocating that, but if I felt the need to do something like that, it wouldn't be a mom & pop shop within my own community - again on both a moral and pragmatic basis.

I follow a philosophy where my actions are formulated by the context of events around me. And I leave all options open depending on the circumstance. I try to live by the standards of the peaceful anarchists, Leo Tolstoy and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, the latter who shied away from revolution, and tended towards "build a new society within the shell of the old." However, I also understand that there may ever be a need to use violence such as espoused by Mikhail Bakunin, The Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of the Ukraine - the Black Army (fighting with the red army against the white army, and then fighting the red army when the latter betrayed the former) to affect a social change in the Soviet Union.

Of course, I'm only using historical examples to stress my point. For instance, it was the Haymarket Martyrs (anarchists), who were accused falsely of killing a police officer with a bomb. They were hanged merely for protesting the disgusting working conditions at the time. They brought about the 8 hour work day. They were a mixture of violent and peaceful anarchists, but both brought about a social change - that we may have a few hours in the day left to enjoy with our families, or pursue other interests. Having accomplished this, Adolf Fisher, one of the anarchists hanged, right before he was dropped, cried out, "Hoorah for anarchy! Today is the best day of my life!" - Wow, to be so passionate as to proclaim the best day of his life was his last!

Anyway, "be realistic; demand the impossible" in whatever fashion that is most apt!

Anyway, thank you for even attempting to understand my point of view, without putting words in my mouth as others have seen fit to do.

I wish you well!