"of mice and Men" By a blogger named "Breda"

[Lars]

Written by a blogger named: Breda

Who describes herself as:
a reference librarian, an artist, a woman, a wife who writes about books, cats, food, guns, beer, love, and more, & not necessarily in that order.
The Breda Fallacy: of mice and men Be sure to follow the link to the actual post, as there are some great comments at the bottom, as well as three links to other like minded stories.

Friday, February 29, 2008

of mice and men

One day last winter, I pulled on my boots, buttoned up my coat and went out into the snow to fill the birdfeeder. We kept the seed in a large bucket in the garage and when I went to scoop some out to carry to the feeder, I noticed that the supply was running low. It was dark in the garage and even darker in the bottom of the bucket. I tipped the bucket a little and was startled to hear a faint skittering noise inside. I looked in...a brown field mouse was trapped down at the bottom of the bucket! My first surprised thought was "eek!", quickly followed by "awwww, cute! mousie!" And as I squatted down next to the bucket to get a better look at my new furry friend...

...the mouse growled at me.

It was a small sound, barely audible, and if the world hadn't been so hushed and muffled under its thick blanket of snow, I might not have heard it. I went very still, holding my breath - I heard it again.

Trapped in the bucket and cornered by a large seemingly menacing creature, the tiny mouse, somehow realizing that flight was impossible, decided to fight for its life.

I was so impressed by the mouse's bravery that when I helped it get free, I left it a big pile of seeds on the garage floor and wished it luck.

The struggle for survival is natural. That fight or flight response is what allows all creatures to live to see another day, to pass on their genes to another generation. Humans have the ability to fear death, not out of pure instinct, but because we consciously know that we are valuable; that our lives, despite all sadness and hardship, can still be sweet. Something good could come as soon as tomorrow. That hope of happiness, that mere possibility of joy, is worth fighting for.

But have we gotten so far from nature that we have lost the ability to fight for our lives? Not too long ago, Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina ran an emergency response drill. A campus police officer posing as a gunman burst into a classroom, where he proceeded to hold the students hostage and terrorize them with a fake gun for 10 minutes. Not one of the students fought back. Not one thought to pick up a chair or a desk, or even a book, to defend themselves. They all lined up against a wall and passively waited for death.

One of the students said, "I was prepared to die at that moment." Several students say they considered leaping from a window.

My mouse had more courage than this. Against insurmountable odds, it growled at me and prepared to fight, even to its death. The college students who meekly bared their throats to those who wanted to rip them out are dead already - they just don't know it.
The will to live is life.

 

[Bill of Rights]

Written by a blogger named: Breda

Who describes herself as:
a reference librarian, an artist, a woman, a wife who writes about books, cats, food, guns, beer, love, and more, & not necessarily in that order.
The Breda Fallacy: of mice and men Be sure to follow the link to the actual post, as there are some great comments at the bottom, as well as three links to other like minded stories.

Great analogy! I will be using this. Thanks for posting it, Lars!

Blessings,
B

 

[sanzo87]

that is a great story and sadly it is true many people would just go down with out a fight its really sad

 

[sanzo87]

i know i just stated this in another post but i think it really belongs here to be seen

The problem is that in our time the schools and other places are not teaching you to defend your self when attacked but to just take it. Idk how long any one here has been out of school (i graduated in 06 this has been true through out all of my schooling) but, im only 20 about to be 21 sat. No matter what was happen to you as far as been attacked and how many people seen the person come out of no where and start hitting you. You the victim got in as much trouble as that attacker if you even tried to defend your self and just a lil less if you didn’t (example if you defended your self you would get the same 5 days out but if you just took the beating you would get 3 days in ISS) now tell me how that is right ????????????? that’s why they arent afraid any more because the ppl are been thought its not right to stand up for your self.

 

[Scutter01]

I spent the better part of my life being a sheep. Several years ago, I stepped foot in a dojo for the first time and from that point on, it was like a light had flipped on in my brain. I suddenly realized that I didn't need to be a sheep. That I was not only allowed, but surprisingly able to protect myself! It was amazing! I just can't describe the realization.

Why do I mention this? I believe that most sheep, don't know that they're sheep. They're so used to being who they are that it never occurs to them that it's okay to protect themselves against evil. I'm not saying it has to be with a gun or a fist, but it could be something as simple as just not standing there waiting to die when a gunman bursts into the room.



Dylan Thomas said it best.

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

[Ri22o]

That is a very good story. Rep points to her.

 

[JetGirl]

The Breda Fallacy: of mice and men Be sure to follow the link to the actual post, as there are some great comments at the bottom

Check out the commentary here, too.

 

[karlsgunbunker]

My boys and I talked about this.
We were discussing Columbine and how the football players were hiding under tables in the Library just waiting to be executed.

I told them if this should happen to, Pick up the table break off the legs and go down fighting.
Guns are great weapons but they aren't Magic Wands.
Find a weapon and at least try to defend your self, don't be a sheep be a wolf.

I'm trying to raise Wolves, Not sheep.

I don't understand why people will just let someone walk around with a Gun and pick and choose victims.
I'd at least have to try and fight.

 

[JD31]

I sat through some school safety training this past year sponsored by the Indiana Dept. of Education, and a presenter, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman stated that many of the students at Virginia Tech. showed the same behavior, and they just sat there waiting to die and only one student showed any self preservation instincts at all, plus the one holocaust survivor who gave his life in their defense.

Perhaps it is the overabundance of video games in which death is simulated so graphically that they are numb to the fact that in life there is no reset button.

Lt. Col. Grossman also has a lot of good information on his website: Killology Research Group: Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman, Author - Jonesboro, Arkansas Check out his press releases, they are quite interesting. Especially Bulletproofing the Mind: A Must for Concealed Carry.

(I'm new so I don't know if he has been referenced before, but his presentation for the Department of Ed. Safety Specialists was eye opening.)

 

[Lars]

JD31, thanks for the insight.

I actually have spent some time on the Killology website. Purchased "On Combat" written by Col. Grossman, as well as "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker

Both are good books from what I've read so far. Mr. De Becker isn't a large pro gun supporter. However the things he writes about apply to both the gun owner, and everybody else.

 

[sanzo87]

i am sorry but i can not agree with the video game comment. viedo games get the same treatment as guns in alot of ways there are lots of anti-game ppl just as there are alot of anti-gun ppl. it is trying to push the blame to something that is not the cause of the problume hince vilifying the object. the problume is how schools etc... want to make the ppl sheep so that there is "less violence" and this is just not true. it causes the stronger and more agressive to take advantage or this sheep like public thats been created

 

[Bill of Rights]

i am sorry but i can not agree with the video game comment. viedo games get the same treatment as guns in alot of ways there are lots of anti-game ppl just as there are alot of anti-gun ppl. it is trying to push the blame to something that is not the cause of the problume hince vilifying the object. the problume is how schools etc... want to make the ppl sheep so that there is "less violence" and this is just not true. it causes the stronger and more agressive to take advantage or this sheep like public thats been created

Slightly disagree. I agree that to blame the game entirely is a mistake, but that's not what I see being said. "Train as you will fight and you will fight as you trained." or words to that effect. Playing video games, you train that if you "die", you either hit reset or you drop in another quarter. In a real fight, game over means exactly that. It's not the fault of the game, but fallacious training.

This does not discount at all your commentary on the schools and their training people to meekly submit Spot on.

Blessings,
B

 

[JD31]

Didn't mean to threadjack the OP!!!

I don't buy the video game thing either, sanzo87. My kids play them all the time, but many kids these days think a whole lot differently than I did growing up, and I don't know exactly what the causes are. It has to be more than schools and video games, and until recently, I had not even thought that I needed to teach them the survival skills, I just learned naturally growing up in the country.

I would hope my kids would know to do as was said before, and they would rip off a table leg if they couldn't get out and defend themselves.

The article I cited in the press releases though quotes Grossman as arguing against maintaining the "Safe to Shoot" zones by arming campus cops and integrating citizens licensed to carry handguns into their plans. As with any source of info., I'll never agree with everything either.

 

[sanzo87]

see that is a common arguement used by anti-gamers as well sorry to say it. they often use comments like that but in the other since as far as the what they train you to do(they say kill not die). but i do see your point but that would stim from other things mentlly if the game was giveing you that impreshion. anti gamers often use examples like that to "nulify" the fact that it is fiction and a person can tell the diff (that is that is compitant enought to tell the diff between real and fake) no matter how real the game may look etc...it is only that (but realize most anti gamers are also anti gun and use the 2 to vilify the other useing relitivly the same nonsince)

 

[sanzo87]

and thanks JD31 i am not just a gun fan i am also a gamer. the thing is they try to vilify guns and games the same. when the problume is that parents dont teach kids what they should or they shelter them too much if you know what i mean. the schools only teach your kid how to be a sheep and sheltering them from the real world is not gona help them with the natral reaction to an attack because in schools etc it is drilled in to your head that its "wrong" to fight back

 

[karlsgunbunker]

One of the reasons this discussion came up is that I try to find out what they are teaching my boys in school.
My boys are 15 (just) and 12 (Twins).
I try to counter the Crap they are taught in school with the Constitution and truth.
The PC form of history emphasises the contributions of Minorities and ignores the Violent truth of our nations History.
Men and Women with Guns, Conquored and then settled this country.
Men and Women with Guns Fought to keep it free.

If you have Children, talk to them about what to do in the event of a crazy with a gun.
Just like Fire drills, Tornado Drills etc. They need to know that just hiding under a desk is not going to save them.

Like I said I want to raise Sheep Dogs/Wolves not sheep.

 

[flagtag]

Written by a blogger named: Breda

Who describes herself as:
a reference librarian, an artist, a woman, a wife who writes about books, cats, food, guns, beer, love, and more, & not necessarily in that order.
The Breda Fallacy: of mice and men Be sure to follow the link to the actual post, as there are some great comments at the bottom, as well as three links to other like minded stories.

Wow! Excellent story! (I'm glad she spared that brave little mouse)

 

[Lars]

. Another post that SHOULD be revived from the dead.

 

[Bill of Rights]

This one does deserve to come back, yes. I noted something in re-reading it:

But have we gotten so far from nature that we have lost the ability to fight for our lives? Not too long ago, Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina ran an emergency response drill. A campus police officer posing as a gunman burst into a classroom, where he proceeded to hold the students hostage and terrorize them with a fake gun for 10 minutes. Not one of the students fought back. Not one thought to pick up a chair or a desk, or even a book, to defend themselves. They all lined up against a wall and passively waited for death.

Admittedly, I didn't go to read the story referenced, but only the "cliff notes" I've here quoted, but I have to wonder... I know that we have teachers and students here, and while the party line is that none of them carry on (college) campuses, I am not asking any of them whether that is true or not-I don't want to know. I don't want to know because when someone finds out you're carrying, in many cases they do so because it's the last thing they find out before finding out if they are to be issued a harp or a pitchfork.
In light of the unasked question, however, suppose the purported gunman entered the class to hold those students hostage, and one of our members was there and further, had for whatever reason decided to carry that day. Would the officer/actor have been shot? I think this to be likely. Would the student/teacher be charged with a crime? Almost certainly, I think s/he would, and the officer/actor would not have time to identify himself to prevent injury or death. Even if he did manage to avoid a student's or teacher's gun being discharged, what would happen to that armed individual who carries/carried? Termination? Expulsion? for no more reason than that they used their gun or attempted to do so while in fear of their life and/or to protect the innocent? If the officer was not able to stop the firing of that gun, that person would likely be charged with murder of a police officer, a capital offense.

Whose fault would this be? For a fire drill, there is no fire, but people are to act as if there is. For a terror drill, the same logic applies. In a fire drill, there is no panicked run for the exits-not so in a real fire. In a terror drill, when escape is impossible, the actor with a fake gun is taking a very large chance that he will not confront someone whose gun fires real bullets that can really kill.

Blessings,
B

 

[flagtag]

Even if a student/teacher didn't have a gun, and used something else (desk,chair, flag stand, whatever) to defend him/herself and the others in the room, and the "terrorist/officer" was seriously harmed or killed as a result, would the defender be charged?

(I worked with a woman years ago who had just gotten out of prison after serving her sentence for killing a person in a "fist fight".)
A "lucky" blow could do the job, then what?

What if the teacher or one of the students had a physical condition which, as a result of such an act, would result in death? (eg: heart)
It was a really stupid move on the school's part.