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I KNOW what I would have done ....

If this woman had been my wife ... murdered by hospital staff ... I would start picking the perpetrators off one by one, at range. What use are a expert marksman's skills if he doesn't use those skills when he and his have been wronged, and purposefully so?

My students' opinion of me was always that "the Prof is a kindly man". However, they didn't know what lies beneath. The only way to keep the beast within at bay is ... as Surak has always said .... secession.

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Wolfie, the Bible often links kindness and justice. Your declaration is, to me, proof of your kindness to your wife.

Your comment also reminds me of something I read many years ago about the etymology of the word "virtue". I often expand on the etymology of words in my classes, linking concepts through the ages. Virtue is a very interesting word.

I imagine you have taught ethics courses in your years as a philosophy professor. What do you think of when you hear the word virtue? Do you think of a very precious, wizened old person, covering his eyes when a woman walks by wearing a short skirt, horrified by the thought of someone drinking or smoking or going to the theater? Is that what virtue is all about?

No. The first syllable "vir" gives us the clue: "vir" as in "virility", which means... manliness. (I understand "vir" is also the origin of "world".)

What is virtue in the context of manliness? The ancients taught us: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. They were respectable enough to Christian philosophers to stand among the seven virtues (and are mentioned in the Septuagint as well). It is appropriate to lead with prudence and temperance, but they cannot survive unless standing on a foundation of justice and fortitude.

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Hi Surak. Haven’t heard from you in quite a while, hope you’re well, what are your thoughts about RFK’s presidential campaign?

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Hi, Mo! Great to hear from you. My wife and I have been dealing with serious medical issues. I am gradually on the mend, and with classes ending this week, I hope to do some blogging this summer - if Mrs. Surak permits it...!

I admire RFK's courage. I am impressed that he is getting 19-21% support in early polls among Democrat voters. As a staunch conservative, I can't support his other positions, for example, concerning "climate change".

I am currently supporting Governor Ron DeSantis for president, and hope to explain why in an upcoming column.

Be well!

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Glad to hear that you’re on the mend, I’ll keep looking out for your blogs.

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Secession seems the logical step before the inevitable. For generations we have been bred into "comfort uber alles," and I fear that there will be no SHTF moment until people realize they literally have nothing left to lose but their lives.

The thing that really worries me about all this 2A business is that we've kind of outgrown its spirit as a national default state of mind. Oh, we're definitely still a gun culture, but only a serious remnant is prepared to go to the mat as the founders intended. But the deal is, without military-level organization, the police files will read "suicide by cop." I think DeGaulle after the fall of France warned against rash action and urged patriots to use their heads. Surveillance technology and reach is orders of magnitude more sophisticated than it has ever been, which really complicates matters. Changes the ballgame entirely.

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