Commentary on victim outlook

Victim philosophy

There is story I read awhile ago that bears repeating. A self defense instructor was visiting a friend in another country and when they left the friends small house, he didn’t lock the door. When the self defense instructor asked why don’t you lock the door the man replied, “If someone wants my TV they’re going to get it. At least, this way I don’t have a broken door AND a missing TV.”
Now, on the surface this seems logical, after all if someone wants your car or TV you might was well minimize the damage. But want does this communicate? What is the underlying philosophy that bubbles up? Just this: You are a helpless victim in the face of criminal oppression and there’s nothing you can do about it.

I’m here to tell you it’s not true!

 You do what you can and not adopt a victim philosophy.

A victim philosophy whispers in your ear and says:
- Don’t resist. You’ll only make the situation worse
- You’re too weak, wimpy, soft, stupid to fight back against such an imposing foe
- Even if you win this time, it’ll spiral out of control and you won’t win next time
-Your ______ is not worth fighting for (TV, house, car, dignity, spouse)
- You can’t handle the fallout
- It is better to give in and live; resist and you may die

The last thought, I think, sums it up. If someone had a gun to your head and gave a series of progressively invasive and harmful orders, at what point would you say “No, blow my brains out?”  I think the anti-victim philosophy can be summed up in one phrase:

Although it may kill me, I will not be forced or controlled to do something by another person who wishes me harm.

You’ve seen the movies where the bad guy tells the victim to turn around and kneel down. The victim is begging for their life but they comply anyway! (There is some truth to this method of execution.) If someone’s going to execute me, they are going to look in my eyes while they do it. ( But, of course, I’m going to try strip the weapon and ventilate him first! ) A good analogy is the idea of an occupying force such as when Germany invaded France during WW II. At first, the people may surrender with the thought of “Well, it’s not so bad. At least we have our homes, culture, family and jobs”. Then the occupiers begin to execute those deemed threats, close down businesses they don’t like. Then the thought is “Well, at least we still have our culture and families.” The occupiers ban certain books, religious services, meetings, art and there goes the cultures. Then the occupiers begin taking away the young men for conscription into the military and the young women to service the men. The people groan and wish they could do something but at least they have their lives.  Really?  Is life, any life, better then standing up for yourself, your family, your country? Is living a life under the oppression of criminal tyranny better then standing up and possibly dying?

I would rather die on my feet then die on my knees!
- RS Goetz - Founder

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