Dueling Anyone?

It's a bad idea, because it invites bullies who are good shots to abuse the privilage.

There are many of us who obey the law merely because it's the law, and take advantage of those things that are legal that give us advantage.

Our system isn't founded on results, it's founded on process.

Dueling eliminates process, and, therefore, the main underpinning of our system.
 
There are many of us who obey the law merely because it's the law, and take advantage of those things that are legal that give us advantage.
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So you're saying the only reason we don't all throw ourselves at each other in a kill frenzy is because we're afraid of the cops?
 
So you're saying the only reason we don't all throw ourselves at each other in a kill frenzy is because we're afraid of the cops?
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Nope.

I'm saying there's a lot of people who were right, and who won, rightously, through our system who would be dead if dueling were legal.

And I'm saying your ears are interfering with our communication.

I didn't say a word about frenzies, fear or cops, and I didn't say anything about throwing anyone anywhere.

Straw men. Amusing, but flamable. Very fragile. Won't get the girls.

Process. Dueling eliminates process.
 
This thing has been revived?

Jammer Six is against it, others are for it, everyone is afraid of it. And there is no way to encourge it, or deny it.

It was a way of life, that history cannot be removed. I'm guessing that the pols made it illegal because they became soft and then when challaged to a duel, they died. So they had to ensure that them becoming soft wouldn't allow another to take them out in that condition.

Me personally, instead of presidental debates that interrupt good shows on tv, just put a flint lock in their hands, walk 20 paces, turn and fire. Who ever is still standing, is now President.

At least there would be some honor in the process, not like it's like now.

Wayne
 
Dueling...had quite a run!

I think dueling had some good points...but some obvious bad points.

Dueling had quite a run ie. Andrew Jackson was quite a dueler...

It also had vicarious side-effects ie. Jefferson Davis and Judah Benjamin once had a heated exchange(I forget who was the challenger...but a challenge was offered by Benjamin I think...and it was peacefully resolved...and the two became 'friends' and 'comrades' as a result of it)
With the threat of a possible 'duel' looming in the shadows...it sorta colors how one deals with people and how one passionatly defends or assails a position. It creates 'bullies' but it also challenges 'bullies'; remember that song 'Bad Bad Leroy Brown' and how he met his demise at the hands of a country boy named 'Slim'. As a trivial aside it is also important to realise that the first successful plea in the USA of 'not guilty by reason of insanity' happened when a congressman discovered his wife's escort was in fact her lover...and he ran out upon the street and shot him dead in front of the whitehouse. He plead 'not guilty by reason of insanity' and 'won'. Incidentally the man he shot down...was named Keyes and was the son of the famous Francis Scott Keyes... The congressman? He was Dan Sickles and became famous as a General in the Civil War at Gettysberg. At Gettysberg he violated an order and exposed his men to horrendous losses in the 'wheatfield' but rushing into the melee he lost a leg and saved what was left of his men...and was hailed a hero(instead of being court marshalled) He was removed from the field smoking a cigar while his leg hung by a thread(proof that cigars do indeed prolong life!) He lived into his 90's. Late in his career he was made a US Ambassador to Spain but was recalled after many Spanish politicians complained of him having an affair with the Queen of Spain... Union General Jefferson C. Davis(coincidentally named the same as CSA president Jefferson Davis) was prior to the Battle of Perryville in a hot ongoing feud with his commanding officer Gen.Nelson... Davis reportedly challenged Nelson to a duel. They were in a hotel...and Nelson laughed it off and turned away...but Davis(who was being treated quite unfairly) lost his temper and shot down Nelson. Nelson's last words were 'I have been basely murdered.' The 3 officers who were to testify against Davis all had the misfortune of being killed in the Battle of Perryville. The charges were dropped, and Davis went on to become one of the better Union Generals.
And of course there is General Nathan Bedford Forrest who in a skirmish in Alabama reprimanded one of his young officers and put in an order for the young officer to be transferred. The young officer felt it was a blow against his honor and that he was being perceived as a coward. Later as Forrest was leaving a hotel...the young officer confronted him...and pulled out a gun.
Forrest grabbed the gun with one hand and pulled out a knife with the other hand...and was shot at point blank range above the hip..through his side. Forrest lunged the knife into the young man who then ran away... Forrest staggered out into the street. A doctor was called. The doctor looked at Forrest's wound and pronounced it 'a mortal wound'. Forrest began crying and tearfully shouted 'I will kill the man who has killed me!' Meanwhile the young man who had shot Forrest...was held up in a hardware store...and dripping blood... Forrest was held back from casing after him. The young man was carried to a bed in the hotel where as he bled to death...Forrest was brought in(by then Forrest had discovered his own wound was a mere flesh wound) and Forrest forgave the young man as the young man wept and died asking for forgiveness. Forrest tearfully reassured the man he was not a coward... The young man died. The general that Forrest eventually replaced - General Earl Van Dorn - was himself shot down by a doctor who discovered that Van Dorn had had a liaison with his wife. He made his way close to Van Dorn, shot him and then fled successfully away into the Union lines... In the Civil War there was so much killing going on among 'comrades' and so much 'political backstabbing' one sometimes wonders how anybody found time to 'fight the so-called enemies.' All of that is wrapped up too of course in the psychology of 'dueling'. I would say that duelling failed ironically because it could not contain the violence inasmuch it became just a part of it - a tool rather than an end unto itself. :cool:
 
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