I can look back on many things in my life with pride. I have hurt
people and I have maimed people, but they were all
bad. You may say that I have no right deciding who lives and who
dies. You may be right. When someone pulls a gun out and puts it in
your direction, your moral compass becomes a bit shaky. If you lived
my life, you
would perhaps understand.
The idea of being tried by a "jury
of your peers" was always alien to me. While I have been in many
fights, and hurt a lot of people, this was always in self-defense. If
a guy comes into my house at night, I will shoot the son of a bitch.
Then I could be tried for manslaughter or murder. What kind of jury
can understand what it's like to have your home invaded by a burgler?
How can the jury understand to have your own life and that of your
family's put at risk unless that sort of thing has happened to them? I
have had these exerpiences. If the jury that is trying me has not had
similar experiences, they cannot understand.
I have helped people. I have been a defender to battered wives.
I have helped older, defenseless people, and I have trained
people to defend themselves. I have found a code to live by and I
follow it to the tee. I always help people in whatever capacity I
can, and I'm a man of my word. I have made peace with my son.
This is not so clear. From the western perspective, I am an unequivocal failure.
From the east's perspective, I am a success.