A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots

“All's fair in love and war” is not intended to be taken literally, rather it is a rhetorical joke. But do we really know if teachings such as this confirm unconscious beliefs in the minds of little children? Children often take to heart what adults say. Although some are naturally quite good at it, critical thinking skills are often under development throughout the early years. Unexamined instruction goes in, and is sometimes simply believed. We hope they figure it out, but what happens if they don't?
Now I refer back to John Lyly and his marvelous satirical work, "Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit". Is this parable, all's fair in love and war, still a joke? I think not. Thus, by taking this seriously, we can justify a tremendous range of misdeeds. In fact, all activity can be cleverly placed upon the spectrum which stretches between the polarized forces of love and war. In other words, it’s “game on" for everything from atrocities of war crimes and torture, to uxoricide as in the story of Bluebeard. In other words, it's “game on" for pretty much everything, wouldn't you say? Humanity is constantly living in this tremendous polaric state--the belief that one must choose either pacifism along with death, or calamity along with life. Ah, there is the lie exposed. Are there no other options? Is that all there is? At the risk of public ridicule, I say that pacifism, love, and compassion equal Life. And, therefore hate, fear, and violence equal Death. I choose life.