Re: So, What IS a Fascist, anyway?

David I. Raines <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
<snip>

> There's a difference between using violence to impose a lifestyle on someone(s)
> and using force to prevent said imposition. Note that I said *force*, not
> *violence*. Blocking a blow aimed at your head definitely requires force,
> but it isn't violence.
> 
> -dir

At what point do you consider force to become violence?  In your
example, what if your block does not stop further aggression?  What if
they pull a knife or gun?  Suppose you have warning that they are
coming with a gun and intend to kill you?

If someone is brandishing a large knife is advancing toward me
quickly, and I have no immediate path of effective retreat, and I'm
not some kind of martial-arts expert or commando type, anything short
of me drawing a firearm and killing them will probably result in my
death or prolonged hospitalization with severe injuries.  If I kill
them is that violence as opposed to mere force?

-AA