Brian, if I don't have my ownvalues - then by implication I should accept those of others?
Sorry I can't buy that. Why should theirs be any better than mine? Yesterday there was another beheading in London. I am sure that guy who did it had his values, I am sure that ISIS has its' values, but again they are not mine.
If people don't have their own-self determined values, albeit influenced by our backgrounds and culture and even laws - what do we live by? For me your values are far too forgiving and lenient, but fair enough as they don't impinge on mine, only differ. In my experience both personal and viewed is that those who simply 'take it' just get more of the same.
I am no hero, and I too have been in circumstances of violence, not least in being a Dance Hall bouncer, but what I DID learn through my life is that scared or not, life is a Hell of a lot easier by fighting back. I totally acknowledge that I would probably scream for mercy if some gutless swine was about to cut my throat with a rusty knife, but that wouldn't change my belief, as I am sure my throat would be cut anyway.
My opening remarks remain. There IS evil in the world and we should recognise it and fight against it to the best of our abilities or we simply get overwhelmed by it - or, even worse are somehow seen to condone it. In MY view (again MY view) forgiveness falls into that latter category - whether inadvertent, well-meaning or not. We all go to Hell in our own way, but as far as I can or am able to make it, I will go standing up, even in a changed world where this could be described as suicidal.
Yes, I AM arrogant Brian, and that too is the person I am. I have never made any secret of my prejudices and beliefs. People either take me for them or pass me by. Although I might prefer the former, the latter doesn't 'destroy' me either. Or maybe, as Jane forecasts, I am destroyed already and simply don't recognise it?
If so - who cares? I certainly don't.