Peter van Uhm: Why I chose a gun

http://www.ted.com Peter van Uhm is the Netherlands' chief of defense, but that does not mean he is pro-war. At TEDxAmsterdam he explains how his career is one shaped by a love of peace, not a desire for bloodshed -- and why we need armies if we want peace.

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[Floafffy]

Preach, good sir. He's completely right. The threat of violence is as good as if not better than violence.

[Shrouddemon]

@Derpderp9000 So everyone that does not agree with military or democratic values, suddenly does not support liberty, life or peace? You sir seem to have a weird vision of this world. I would go to Somalia if I was given loads of money from my government/IMF in order to help build up that country, seemingly no government/IMF will do that since that will not give them profit.

[Derpderp9000]

@Shrouddemon

If you do not support liberty, or life, or peace, then please go to Somalia. They have none of that there, and they do not want to impose themselves on the rest of the world.

You would even get to be a pirate!

[Shrouddemon]

@Exmech2 There is no such thing as a "good" war. All forms of warfare are bad.

[Shrouddemon]

@masamune200 You are free to disagree :) yet there is a difference in allowing someone to beat you to pulp or to stop someone from beating you to pulp. He was wisely enough to disengage before meeting my size 9 shoe upon his throat. If I have to take someone down I will but that does not mean I will hold a grudge/hatred to that person nor does it mean that I will kill that person. That we can think says to me that violence is just an easy way out for it does not require thinking ;)

[masamune200]

@Shrouddemon I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume your story is true, but just because you were successful once doesn't mean you will be every time, or that anyone else will be successful in talking an attacker down. Also, I don't think people care about "losing the dialogue" if they've beaten their "dialogue opponent" into a bloody pulp. This is especially true when their objective isn't to win you over but rather to take something by force. I respect your opinion, but I disagree.

[Shrouddemon]

@masamune200 As a matter of fact I don't even have to conduct that "expirement". Those that resort to violence ADMIT they have lost the dialogue. Why else would you punch someone in the face? I have had such an experience where I had a screwdriver pulled at me and behold, I talked to him (though with my heart beating in my throat) till he left, in one of the worst area's of my town. Easy way to stop something = Stop Participating in it ;)

[Sebas3440]

I love this man's speech.

I just don't get why people would be scared to be close to a gun.

Firearms are awesome.

[masamune200]

@Shrouddemon

Tell you what, if you're so confident in nonviolent resistance then lets do a little experiment. Put on your nicest clothes and go get a bunch of cash to put in your wallet. Then take a long walk through the rough/dangerous part of the nearest big city. If someone tries to mug you try and use non-violent resistance to stop them from A: Causing harm to your person and B: Successfully taking your wallet and/or its contents or any other items of value from your person. Good luck :)

[Shrouddemon]

@masamune200 And that reaction solely, prevents us from stopping violence. Perhaps you THINK you cannot do such a thing. Whilst people that do think it is possible make it possible. Violence breeds more violence, so why is it, 4500 years ago a man said; "Hatred does not cease by Hatred, only by Love" Buddha, and we still do not get those words? To think we are animals means we are no better then mice yet we create. Change is the biggest tendency humans have.