Apocalypse Justice - Someone’s got to walk the line
So let’s say it all goes sideways because the economy is booming and the Wars in the Middle East are being won with the barest of efforts and community relations between the various societal tribes are “never better”. Let’s just say.
But, it all goes sideways anyways.
A lot of articles focus on storing up your rice and beans. Picking the right weapons. Having the best gear. Fortifying your particular acre of the apocalypse. All very much needed.
But there are some other issues that are going to arise when you begin to live life on your own terms. Issues not always covered in articles about water, food prep and ammo. Issues of wild dogs running amok in your community. And what must be done when things must be done.
Even without a society, on your own, or a member of a small community, you’re going to run into some problems. You’re going to encounter some people, they may even be your nearest neighbors, who aren’t going to be maximizing the downfall for everyone’s betterment.
Occasionally they might even violate the agreed upon community standards with some mayhem, thievery, destruction, bodily harm, rape and even, yes, murder. While you might finally flourish without the constraints of Big Brother and an endless river of taxation shamelessly enacted on an almost daily basis with a straight face, others might not reach their full potential now that all that silliness is gone. Others might get up to some trouble and when they do, when they violate the sacred rights of others it’s time to consider some justice, which you just might have to administer to keep everyone happy. In other words you might need to be both sheriff and judge.
Here’s a rule of ancient law for you to carry in the hand not carrying your gun…
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Or the lex talionis.
A lot of people have a misconception about this maxim. They think it means revenge. “They do to me, I do to them.” Often, twice as worse.
Except that leads to the Hatfields and McCoys situations that actually make up much of world history. The Middle East. Bloods and Crips.
Revenge isn’t actually justice.
Justice is the punishment of a crime. The consequences of violating the community standards by infraction or wrongdoing.
When you actually study an “Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth” you end up realizing its more of a restraint against excessive punishment that might horrify your community and, in the process, probably get some “cousins” of the wrongdoer real angry.
My friend, a Plain Person Philosopher, offered this exmple of how the Amish of his community enforce the law and deal with aberrant behavior…
“As for our interaction with “the world,” even after a systemic collapse, every “Plain” or Amish sect is different. Most are purely pacifistic. Our fellowship is non-violent but not pacifistic. There is a difference. We believe the decision to resist violence or not resist it is usually an individual choice and should be governed by the conscience of the individual although we should be governed by a principle of non-violence. Do no harm. As much as is possible we hope to live at peace with all men and women.
HOWEVER, we do not believe we have a right to sit by while the innocent or defenseless are harmed in our presence when we have the power to stop it. Therefore we are authorized to engage in violence to defend the defenseless or, in extreme cases, enforce any law that requires it if there is no civil magistrate to enforce the law.”
-Michael Bunker, author of the Bestseller Pennsylvania series
If the world does end and the cops stop picking up the phone and you suddenly find yourself strapping, standing in the middle of a county road to right some wrongs, it’ll pay to keep in mind that yes, things must be made right, but that one may only go so far in the making of things back to right. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth… and no more. That means that death is not always the punishment for getting sideways of your community. It means the punishment must fit the crime and no further. If you do end up having to enforce your own law and mete out punishment, remember that the lex talionis is a reminder to exercise restraint. Its a guide that allows for measured punishment. Never retribution.
We may not always have the luxury of a dogcatcher. We may have to deal with our wild dogs on our own. Measure twice, cut once.