I only disagree with violence part. If you want peace, prepare for war. If you are not capable of great violence and the other side knows it, than you cannot be peaceful, because you are harmless. And that is the problem, because it makes bad people think they have no opposition to their lunacy and no limit. Violence works and its always the answer on which everything else is built. If you want to have a mature conversation with opposition, first you must make sure that they can't bully you around. Simply as that. Anything else is a waste of time, since they won't listen to reason. You cannot appeal to their morality, they have none and their values are opposite. But if they bealive you are not just harmless but you choose to be non violent, than they will listen because of fear of violence. Without that capacity, you have no platform to stand on. Hence, violence and more importantly the threat of it, is foundation on which everything else is built. It does not do much on its own, but its absolutely critical foundation for everything else.

@Krunoslav Well stated!

Few know who they are. Most mistake belief and opinion for fact/truth.The value of values cannot be underestimated, but I would caution against categorically denying violence its place and utility in the world. This world is and always has been, as far as we can know, a violent and dangerous place. A world without violence is the Snowflakes dream. However the histories of Austria, the former Czechoslovakia and Poland will all attest to the fact that there are bullies in this world who should be beaten down soundly and soon lest they become so emboldened in their behavior that they leave no alternative but total war.

@Krunoslav "If you are not capable of great violence and the other side knows it, than you cannot be peaceful, because you are harmless."

Absolutely. Being 2nd Amendment believers, non-violence as a first step does not mean inability to deliver great violence. Anyone who has ever met myself or my husband is quite aware we are not to be messed with and would explosively respond were it necessary. I did not mean to give the impression of pacifism. I have always seen deep cowardice underlying most pacifistic responses. I just don't idly waive it around. Teddy Roosevelt was spot on.

@toronto_Georgia cheers.

@Krunoslav Weird thing I learned as a young woman. When enraged and aggressive for good cause I cease to have any sensation of pain in battle. Rather an interesting phenomenon. I never from that point on worried were battle to happen. Is that a common response? I don't know but it is comforting.