In Defense of the British!

07 Dec 08

Comments on India, from a well-traveled friend and colleague:

"I notice India has not given up all things British:

They still apeak English. They still use railroads. They still use the Westminster Bicameral Parliament.

And their political leaders? All educated in England!

No, it is not the 'British Legacy' that confounds, but the will toward tyranny, to which all governments, not just the British, are ever disposed.

Ours is, unhappily, no exception, and, in many ways, is leading the charge into a new Dark Age, from which humanity may never emerge."

Comment: The most radical revolutionary will become a staunch conservative, the day after the Revolution!

/John

Verbal/postural disengagement

07 Dec 08

Success story, from an Instructor in LA:

"After dinner at a local upscale restaurant with my teen-aged daughter yesterday evening, we were walking back to my car. This is a "nice" part of town!

Out of the dark emerged a 'homeless' man. He moved toward us aggressively, actually bumping into my daughter, who was a few steps in front of me. He may not have even seen me initially. In a gruff and threatening voice, he said, 'Give me some money!"

Instantly, I put my hand up (open palm) and clearly announced, 'Don't come near me!' I quickly looked at this hands to make sure he wasn't reaching for something, and then back to his face, as I swept my daughter behind me. My OC bottle was already in my strong-side hand.

He froze in place. His blank expression indicated to me that he was startled and befuddled. Seizing the initiative, we disengaged and speedily walked past him. I glanced back over my shoulder to see if he was following, but he just stood where he was, mumbling to himself.

Problem solved! Not a big deal as it all turns out, but what it confirmed to me is that you need to learn the steps and practice them until they become automatic. At no time did I think of the individual steps after I set the process in motion."

Comment: In our "Gun Courses," we do a lot of shooting, of course. But, aggressive verbal and postural disengagement are also critical skills and must be learned and exercised in scenario-based drills every time we're the Range practicing our shooting skills. In this life, you're going to talk with a lot more people than you're going to shoot... with any luck!

/John