I would add that it also requires the will and willingness to use it. Otherwise you're a paper tiger. The tough part as you allude is how and when to apply it. I disagree with some of our applications; however, Paul's policy would err way too far in the other direction. IMHO also of course.
Yup. I get it, and i respect it, and i respect you. I take your arguments for genuine because you actually have some. Thank you for the substance of your opinion.
I'm going to go on a tangent here because i think it best illustrates my position.
In martial arts, we are taught the concept of "supreme confidence".
It means several things, first is that you should not cheat, cheating is for those that lack the confidence to apply their skill on an equal field. Those that cheat are conceding their own weakness.
The second thing it implies is that you don't have to fight at every opportunity. Because you are confident in your abilities, you don't have to answer every challenge to your manhood. This goes to the "karate kid" style confuscianism of non-violence.
The final implication is that once the necessity of violence is obvious, once you are supremely confident in the virtue of your action, you can strike without remorse.
This parallels the
Christian Just War Theory.
I am supremely confident that the superiority of our ideas, and system will outlast and overshadow a theocratic, backwards, divorced from any form of liberty system.
I support ending foreign aid to Saudi, Palestine, Pakistan, and all of the other nations with their hands out for our money while they incite hatred of us among their people.
I support ending foreign aid to Europe, so they can build a socialist state that the socialists of this country use as a model of where to take us.
I support getting out of the foreign affairs of Israel, and letting them deal with Palestine and Iran without our handcuffs on them.
I support small government and personal freedom, and frankly, if you line up in a similar fashion, you only have one candidate that really reflects those principles.
I have no illusions about converting you, my goal is to show you that there is a conservative case for Dr. Paul, and you don't have to be a moonbat liberal or a "hate america" person to feel that way.