There is a common misunderstanding about the difference
between defensiveness and defense.
Defensiveness is an excessive sensitivity to criticism. It induces irrational and frantic behavior,
fear, and an inability to respond appropriately to legitimate needs. Defensiveness causes frustration, aggression,
anger, and a feeling of helplessness.
Defense is an appropriate response to an attack. Defense is any method which can be used to repel
an aggressor and prevent injury or loss.
As an example of the difference between defensiveness and
defense: An American infantry squad is
in battle in a third world country. The
enemy vastly outnumbers the American soldiers, but the Americans outclass the
enemy in every way, in skill, in technology, and in knowledge. The enemy knows this. They know nothing about defense; their only
strategy is to attack. But they attack
out of fear and defensiveness. At every
sound, at even the slightest glimpse of an American, the enemy soldier will
empty an entire clip, spraying the jungle or desert in all directions with
bullets from his machine gun. The
American, on the other hand, patiently waits, his automatic rifle set on single
fire, confident in his ability to respond to the attack. When the enemy comes into view... Bang!
An enemy falls. Bang! An enemy falls. No panic, no wasted resources, no
frustration, no anger – and an ability to function normally in any other
context or situation.
Right now, the
Democrats are in full blown, frantic, insane, defensiveness. They have no other strategy but attack. Republicans have been hesitant to defend
themselves from these irrational attacks for fear of appearing to act the same
way. This campaign started out with eight
powerful candidates, any one of which would have probably made an acceptable
president. Every time one would appear
to edge ahead, he would be attacked so violently that he would drop out. None of them had an effective defense.
We are down to our last candidate. Whether or not he is the best is irrelevant. He is
quite acceptable, and, based on his background, he might be exactly what the country needs at the
moment. He must be defended – not with frantic defensiveness, but with calm, competent
precision.
We must respond to panic with competence.
We must respond to ignorance with knowledge.
We must respond to lies with facts.
We must respond to hate and intolerance with love and
tolerance.
We must respond to racist bigotry disguised as affirmative
action. Genuine racial equality is manifested
by greater diversity in higher positions of leadership based on competence and
acceptance rather than quotas and mandates.
Our country and all
that we hold dear is under attack. We
must defend.
