h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

John Red Bear -

Elsewhere you've gotten some criticism for having cut a man for calling your wife a squaw. Please ignore it.

Well - OK - myself, I find it hard to imagine a situation where I'd pull a knife on someone. In fact, I work as a volunteer in the legal system as a (sort of) judge in cases involving young people and I advise them *strongly* against carrying knives or other forms of violence. I'm sure you'd say the same to your own kids: it could get them into a lot of trouble.

*However* - the people who've reacted negatively to you don't know your circumstances. Yhey mean well, but...I doubt they've ever had a wife subjected to racist abuse. I doubt they've ever been in a position where they're not able to call a cop to fight their battles for them.

Did you do the right thing cutting the guy? I have no idea. You're the best person to judge that.

(Just don't do it again, hear? )

Let me tell you of a true happening when I lived in Eire

An alcoholic's wife visited our local doctor for a minor ailment, and during his examination of her he discovered old and recent scars on her arms from cigarette burns, and old faded bruises and more recent ones on her body; it was obvious she was being beaten systematically.

But by whom?

She finally admitted it was her husband.

A few nights later, the good Doctor meandered down to the pub that the woman's husband frequented. He walked the man out of the pub come closing time and steered him into a quiet side road, where 2 members of the local police force were standing. One officer walked to one end of the side road, and the other officer stood at the other.

The doctor then proceded to give the woman's husband a thoroughly comprehensive beating, judged nicely enough to ensure he was hurt, but not fatally. And he made sure the man was told in no uncertain terms that if he ever laid a hand on his wife or verbally abused her again, there would be more of the same, every time it happened.

Neither police officer "saw" anything, naturally.

Now the "civilised" on this site would throw their hands up in horror. Some would even take the part of the alcoholic, arguing that the man was sick and needed understanding help, and councelling.

Me?

Had I been in that Doctor's position I would have done exactly the same thing. And not lost any sleep about it, either.


And for the record.... the man never hurt his wife again, she gained the physical and mental strength to leave him and make a happier healthier life for herself and their children who had also been beaten by him.

(And no, this story isn't about me; I locked my old man in the coal shed for 24 hours whilst I moved out - and then got the local priest to open the locks once I'd gone!)

I suppose what I'm trying to say is I know that sometimes it's necessary to descend to gutter tactics when you're dealing with someone or something from the gutter. Its the only form of communication they understand. Fortunately, it is also possible to climb back onto the path you want to walk on afterwards and continue as normal.

Unfortunately some of the more academic and possibly gentler souls around cannot comprehend this.

But then, I wouldn't lose sleep about that fact, either.

Thanks for that story EC.


Johnredbear, thank-you too for your patience and willingness to explain things in your posts. I appreciate your presence on h2g2. It's always good when new blood arrives here and makes people have to think.

Oh yeah, and I do enjoy your wicked sense of humour.

Edward, I do appreciate your understanding. I am pleased when others are open to the thoughts that not all things are a straight line. I respect those that are as Freind Eva has put "gentler souls". I can put myself in a place where there is no need for such actions and so can feel the shock of that mind.
Thankyou Edward for being a force for peace in the world you find yourself living in. It is always better to have peace when true peace is to be had. I think too that where there is no violence that maybe it doesn't mean that there is peace but another kind of war going unseen. I do not pretend to know but have been thinking much on the ideas put forward here.

to you, jrb. I think that some of those commenting may have lived in a more peaceful world than you. They are good people - but naive. And unimaginative.

Kea, I am glad that you sense my humor. I am not always morose or grave or stern as sometimes I must appear to those who listen to my writing. You listen well.

>>I can put myself in a place where there is no need for such actions and so can feel the shock of that mind.

I like that. Well said.

Freind Eva,
I am pleased to hear from you once more. I am happy for the story you put before me. It is I think a good example for others to think on. It strikes me that so much of what we are able to see s because of what we have seen. Perhaps this may be true for feelings and other things as well. You have always been to my sight a woman of depth in her spirit, by this I mean much experience and the ability to weave that experience into the fabric of yourself to the making of something that is a joy to the eyes of ones heart. I hope I am clear but I have not other words, please know that it is a good thing I say to you.
J.R.