Wisdom of the Fathers

[plural]

I spoke with my father
about last nights events
the conversation ended up
making a good deal of sense to me
gave me a little peace



Plural: hey dad

Dad: hey there, I just got home from work

Plural: how was it

Dad: it was a rough night, but now Im off until next Saturday, I'm going to be in Denver at basic shift management course

Plural: yeah my night was pretty rough too, sweet, glad to hear you are finally getting those management courses
Plural: I got jumped by three guys leaving the bar tonight
Plural: the guy I head butted a while back and two of his friends
Plural: I am ok though, got a bloody nose but otherwise came through unscathed

Dad: yeah me to, in the next 6 weeks, I'm doing 4 training sessions, next is Serv safe which is 2 days then something in Lander, and then back to Denver in march for advanced shift management
Dad: did you give him a bloody nose as well?

Plural: nice I am glad to hear they are finally coming through on their promises
Plural: I am pretty sure I broke his nose
Plural: and the second guy has a few broken ribs
Plural: the third guy I just dropped
Plural: then I ran

Dad: sounds like a wise decision

Plural: I hate that sort of shit
Plural: but I am not going to just sit there and take a beating either

Dad: I have always hated that sort of shit also but i don't believe in being someones punching bag either

Plural: nod
Plural: I have a hard time reconciling my capacity for violence with how I view myself
Plural: when it comes down to it, I know that I have no hesitation to use violence to protect myself and those I love
Plural: and use it effectively
Plural: but I do not like that side of myself

Dad: no one does, but that is the nature of the beast, we as a species are by nature aggressive, I dislike violence but I am a mirror, I reflect what I am approached with

Plural: yeah, I identify with that a lot
Plural: I avoid violence to every degree possible
Plural: but when it isnt possible to avoid, I do not pull my punches
Plural: but that doesn't make me comfortable with it either
Plural: I felt a mans ribs snap under my hands tonight, it sickens me

Dad: we all do what we have to do at any given time, that man's ribs would not have snapped if he had not been trying to do you some damage

Plural: my problem I think is less with what I had to do, than with what I am capable of
Plural: I cannot find fault in my actions for they were forced by his actions
Plural: but I have a hard time reconciling my ability to do harm, with the loving man I want to be

Dad: I do not wish anyone harm, but if they try to harm me or mine, I will not hesitate to mount the most effective defense possible, having the ability to defend yourself, is a good thing, you are a loving man
Dad: the human race is the deadliest predator on the planet,

Plural: nod
Plural: you last statement is exactly how I feel
Plural: (second to last actually)
Plural: but there is this guilt

Dad: you shouldn't feel guilty, if you finish what someone else starts

Plural: nod
Plural: it isnt that
Plural: I look at society
Plural: violence is taboo
Plural: and I am exceptionally good at violence
Plural: it makes me question myself

Dad: violence is not taboo, it is restricted, to certain acceptable forms and venues

Plural: I have friends, who have never been in a fight
Plural: I often ask myself what it is about me, that I have been in many
Plural: perhaps it is my confidence and unwillingness to be stepped on
Plural: but I am not sure

Dad: the refusal to be a doormat that can be walked on can at times lead to problems

Plural: tonight there was this other fellow, I was playing pool with
Plural: he kept trying to escalate the game into an ego conflict
Plural: and I managed to avoid it

Dad: the Mexicans have a saying " I would rather die on my feet, than live the rest of my life on my knees"

Plural: that is exactly how I feel
Plural: I just wish I suppose that I could live on my feet without violence

Dad: and I also feel that way , but the nature of that attitude is that some times you have to prove it

Plural: and how? what did tonight prove, next time will it just be more of his friends

Dad: tonight proved nothing, because at it's core violence never proves anything,

Plural: nod
Plural: I agree

Dad: the way I look at it is that violence is a break down in the social order, that is sometimes unavoidable, due to the stubborn stupidity of our species

Plural: that makes sense
Plural: how do you rectify what you are capable of, with who you want to be? as a man I mean

Dad: we have ideals and standards, that we try to maintain, we rectify the situation, by doing the best we can to be who we want to be, sometimes other people interfere with who we want to be by their presence

Plural: that makes sense, I have long had the belief that we define ourselves by what behavior we are willing to accept in our world

Dad: Hmmm, or maybe by what behavior we are not willing to accept?

Plural: exactly
Plural: for me there are only a few thing which I believe are so important that I will not make every attempt to avoid a fight over
Plural: those things are my line
Plural: what separates acceptable bullshit from the unacceptable

Dad: " The unexamined life is not worth living" I don't remember who said that, but I like it

Plural: it is a good sentiment
Plural: well, I think I am going to take a bath and go to bed

Dad: that sounds like a good Idea, I' m off tomorrow, going to watch the super bowl, give me a call, Much love dad

Plural: sounds good, I will call ya tomorrow, much love son

Comments

[amazonwoman.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you came out of the fight ok. :)

Now we know where you learnt all your wisdom from.