Obviously, we are better off without conflict and to simply all get along--that's the ideal!
Now unfortunately, in real life there may be situations where we may have fundamental differences of opinions and goals, and at times these may seriously clash.
What's good for you, may be bad for me (or vice versa)...that's called a win-lose situation.
And when we don't see eye to eye and can't get along, then either we can try to work it out and that's where diplomacy comes in or at other times, we may have no choice but to take up arms and go to war.
Our first choice is diplomacy. Here, we sit down to listen and try genuinely to understand each other, and have empathy on others...life is not easy for anyone.
Still we need to mesh what others want with what we need for our own wellbeing and progress, and that's where negotiation, compromise, and de-escalation come into play.
Best case scenario, we come up with a win-win situation, where we can both walk away from the table with a respectable enough amount of what we each want and our egos still intact, so that that we can all go our merry ways and pursue our lives and live within our values and amidst security.
However, in some cases, some may be so unreasonable, intractable, and their actions so aggressive, egregious, and dangerous as to threaten, harm, and violate the lives of others, that it's intolerable for it to continue any longer.
What's left when we can't put up and shut up, and when talk is exhausted, is to fight for what we believe in, for who we are, and for our right to live and prosper.
Once, twice, three times and you're out of time and luck--we are seriously headed for a clash of persons and/or civilizations.
Peace is better won without firing a shot, but when it's time to pull out the guns, they better be damn big and deadly ones.
That is called peace through strength...where we have the guts and means to back up our position with force, if necessary.
None of this bullshit of bringing a knife to a gunfight; instead, when we have no choice but to fight, we fight to win and everything is on the table.
Peace is the preference, but if war is the only answer, then the other side may have unleashed hell, and that is what they will get from peace through strength delivered! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
