It is tempting to believe that if we take power and security from other people then we will be safer. At first glance, some people believe that having power over others will make them safer.
This is a false premise. Power and safety are not zero-sum games. A zero-sum game is a game where what one person loses is what another person gains. For example, chess is a zero-sum game; for someone to win, someone else must lose. If security were a zero-sum game, then for someone to be safe, someone else would have to be insecure.
Security is shared
For example, if you allow the government to limit your neighbor’s speech, then who will speak when the government limits your speech? If you allow your friends to be unjustly jailed, then who will protest when you are unjustly jailed? If one country threatens the security of another country, then everyone’s security is diminished.
Since power and security are not zero-sum games, we do not have to take away other people’s power and security to have more power and security ourselves. The best way to ensure power and security for us is to try to ensure power and security for others.
Protect your security
How do you deal with someone that is threatening your power and security? When the school bully pushed you around, did you kill him? When your boss tells you to work long hours, do you attack him? Most people choose non-violent action everyday. Most people choose actions that respect the power and security of others. Most people choose peaceful actions.
