Peter van Uhm: Why I chose a gun

[@nixter87]

“It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.”

[@BicycleFunk]

I'd rather be a gardener in a garden.

[@22burst2020ddsspec]

@@BicycleFunk Unfortunately we need to accept we don't live in a perfect world.

[@aachen800]

@@BicycleFunk I think the point is that if you're ready for a fight people won't mess with you.

[@DaddyKratosOfTheShire]

Well said, and target practice and hunting for food is fun at times

[@OriflammeGaming]

mmoore I’m sure you would, but here’s your gun; now you’re gonna fight this war. Cheerio!

[@bjarnealgra1452]

His son was killed in action while serving 4 years before this ted talk. Yet he stands here to tell people why the gun makes the world a better place. What a legend

[@Timonster007]

Oh…

[@mr.lostrythm7876]

*That is a true soldier right there!* Despite the loss, he still firmly believes the world can be made a better place using a gun.

[@user-zl9vh2xr6b]

What a devoted man. So glad that our future will be peaceful, no matter how many dead sons he and the others will build it on.

[@m.d.1733]

@@user-zl9vh2xr6b sure .... Not

[@abyssinia4ever]

Sounds like a deluded old man. Enjoy having a corpse for a son.

[@josephdemartino6053]

"The true soldier does not fight because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton

[@joehoc4922]

Amen brother!

[@djseeweed8561]

got this tattood on my arm

[@greenbrickbox3392]

​​@ShutUpChuck! yeah lots of the most elite military units today are filled with people who love combat and fight because that is their lifestyle, plenty of elite warriors throughout history have been like that as well. The "true soldier" is a nice idea but many professional combat arms soldiers will care more about their brothers in arms next to them than anyone at home.

[@tommysmithlein3417]

Well said. I was an infantry squad leader, in my mid-thirties in 2003. I was ninth child of a WW2 veteran. So Im a "thrown back". The youngsters of modern day, I felt where not so understanding or thoughtfil. My best,. Most competent squad member toldr n Gesmy

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

@ShutUpChuck! shut up chuck.

[@bakerboy8910]

Finally watched this as it was recommended by the algorithm. This man hits it on the head. A gun can cause chaos or it can cause peace. It's the person behind the gun that determines the outcome

[@pavelborisov515]

also it cause money

[@boerbeun]

@@pavelborisov515 and tyranny if you can not stand up against

[@watup110875]

Alcohol drugs is no diff

[@billybutlin7857]

It's the person behind the person with the gun who causes the violence!

[@watup110875]

@@billybutlin7857 2-FACED LIARS GOVERNMENTS CORPORATIONS AND EVEN PU55Y AZZ RELIGION LEADERS

[@knight_lautrec_of_carim]

I, as a German, can only recommend going to a shooting range to shoot at least once in your life. Many people in unarmed countries like Germany have a totally wrong perception of guns and many irrational fears.

[@shaihulud4515]

Âhm, aber du hast schon verstanden worum es ging, oder?

[@Tyrion-ks6rp]

@@shaihulud4515 ich denke Mal nicht.

[@douglasmueller4684]

My fellow countrymen, I live in United States, we at this point of time are blessed to be able to be armed. I am sorry for you in the fatherland. It is a lot of fun to go shooting try different tactics. Well anyway. Be safe.

[@Ogrematic]

Thank you for your insightfulness.

[@knight_lautrec_of_carim]

@Dave I know but it's also quite expensive for young people. You have to be a member of a shooting club for a year before you can even apply for a ownership license. Then you need to do tests which cost money and need at least two gun safes that are verified by the state which also aren't cheap. Then to keep your guns you have to go shooting once a month or 24 times a year. The weapons themselves are also way more expensive here than in the US. You can also make a hunter's license but this also costs 2000-3000€ and you still need the safes.

[@stretchopotomus2385]

Seeing real soldiers talking about World War II and the price of freedom makes me all the more ashamed to hear my countrymen calling each other "Nazis" out of personal spite.

[@dontgettoknowm9864]

If the shoe fits

[@dhardy6654]

He isnt a real soldier, he is from europe and europe hasnt created any warriors in 3-4 generations. He just wear a Uniform and that doesn't make a soldier....he just sucks like every other wimp in Europe that was neutered. If you want to talk to warriors the you'll only listen to americans speak

[@jacobmccandles1767]

D Hardy, As your fellow American I will be blunt: You've been brainwashed. Not all countries can spend what we spend on tbeir military. That doesn't mean the men OR their training are soft.

[@temakozlovski8435]

@@dhardy6654 Wow!!!

[@monalisa72775]

@@dontgettoknowm9864 If the shoe Don't Fit... Don't wear it.

[@owenlastname.3500]

"some of you may feel uneasy around this gun" "Most of you have never seen a gun" Me: *visable confusion* Me: *realizes* OH because it is not America that is why.

[@williamfescemyer4739]

Same

[@zoubirtajjiou8073]

Jsjsj here in Europe is hard to get a gun. No matter the way of it's legal or illegal it's hard to find.

[@eugeniucobilas5998]

Weapon are part of my religion.

[@Le_Furret]

Yes usa is used to see gun even from school

[@Idfkleavemealone420]

Lol right!!! I use my guns almost weekly.

[@daanbondt3167]

I bet this man could make me recruit into the army with a five minute talk

[@yperkin1016]

Have so much respect for him and his genuine gentle but pointed approach .It speaks volumes of the Determination that defines Courage.

[@tonip3598]

Un militar así merece todo el respeto, sea general o cabo. Explicando así su oficio y vocación merece todo el apoyo y material que pida. Un hombre de honor pacífico que entiende su trabajo, la finalidad de su oficio. Tiene mi respeto y apoyo, señor.

[@bobbyd8503]

As an American Airman who was stationed in West Germany in the mid 80's, I was really touched by the gratitude of the people of the Netherlands. It was really humbling to have an older coffee shop owner who lived thru WWII come up and thank me for their freedom.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

I really doubt that happened

[@scottd345]

@@Man_fay_the_Bru Happened to me many times when I was stationed there with the 1st IDF in the early 80s.

[@princevalencia8816]

@@Man_fay_the_Bru just because you’re an ungrateful sob doesn’t mean everyone else around you is. Not everything is about you.

[@tknows470]

Thank you.

[@joelpauls9437]

@@Man_fay_the_Bru you really need to educate yourself or at least try to get a life. I spent close to 10 years overseas most of it in Germany and when you talk to the older people who come to find out they prayed to God that the Americans would get to them before the Russians read up on your history you'll understand why

[@glemwheatley9425]

Dutch Commander: “You may feel uncomfortable around this gun.” An American: “Here. Hold my beer.”

[@patrichausammann]

A Swiss: "Are you joking? The gun is unloaded and it does not even has a magazine, and if so." 😂

[@sbritton1313]

You mean most Americans

[@johannesswillery5146]

@@patrichausammann I wish the Americans were as well armed as the Swiss.

[@richbrownsberger5452]

Mark Burch don't

[@glemwheatley9425]

ClingyCrab1951 I didn’t understand your comment response before, I think maybe it was the wine,😁but now I do, so thanks for clarifying.😊But just to keep the record straight, I don’t have a problem with people who don’t like guns, don’t want to own them, or don’t want to have them in their homes. They are the sheep and I will be there to assist in their protection. I only have a problem with those who tell ME I shouldn’t like them, shouldn’t own them, and shouldn’t have them in my home, and then they want to make laws enforcing that. They are the wolves and should be shut down. But yes, I should have clarified, I should have stated, “An American Guard Dog” but it would have lost a little something in the translation.😏🤣And FTR, I’m a “she” not a “he” and have been one my entire life. No plans to switch anytime soon.😅

[@wimpwampwomp]

"You may be uncomfortable around this gun" "I'm Indonesian, discomfort around literally any authority figure is a part of life"

[@EggyJeff2725]

relatable

[@Mrjohnnymoo1]

"My family is Indo from the '40s. discomfort around Indonesians is literally part of our life."

[@ananda9404]

As a fellow Indonesian were still better than some place example in africa still there is gang wars running rampant

[@EggyJeff2725]

@@ananda9404 well, we have tawuran

[@ismailhamdan3289]

@@EggyJeff2725 however, the murder rate in Indonesia are among the LOWEST in the world, even compared to Canada and many other developed states

[@whybother8400]

This is the first time I have seen this TED talk and I'm absolutely blown away. This gentlemen is a pleasure to listen to. A firearm is almost like a balancing act. It can be used for evil, or it can be used for good. Imagine a rifle being used by a dictator's army to oppress the people. One day the soldier carrying that rifle changes sides and now fights back against the dictator's oppression with that very same rifle - and its in this context that we must use the gun for good to outweigh evil as perfect equilibrium and balance is against the laws of nature. Whether it be in the hands of a soldier, a policeman, a farmer or a regular person. It reminds me of a quote adapted from a Roman writer by the name of Publius Vegetius Renatus which states "Sī vīs pācem, parā bellum" which translates to "Those who want peace, must be prepared for war" and in this day and age that quote could not be further from the truth. Its very important that people know and understand firearms as they are such an integral part of our society.

[@reinbeers5322]

I think many didn't quite realize before watching this that a gun is merely an object, a tool - its use is completely dictated by the user. A gun cannot be evil as it has no will of its own. The old quote is still accurate. If you want peace, prepare for war. A country's military might or a civillian's firearm of choice both serve the same purpose - first as a deterrent, and secondly as a means to end the threat.

[@josehurghenburghen3154]

"The man who sleeps with a machete is a fool every night except for one."

[@levonh.378]

-Sir James May

[@sendingit2601]

@@levonh.378 from top gear...?

[@levonh.378]

Sean Unrein yup

[@nialmurphy9622]

The show for the utmost intellectual people

[@rmallico]

he is always a fool

[@douggracey7558]

“I prefer a dangerous freedom to a peaceful slavery...” Thomas Jefferson

[@Bristecom]

That's what America was supposed to be all about yet so many Americans want to change it to be like every other country in the world. It's like, if you don't like the American philosophy of freedom, then go anywhere else in the world! (BTW, I'm not saying the USA is totally free now - it has obviously changed dramatically over the years)

[@douggracey7558]

Bristecom: So many have forgotten that our country, the USA, was initially founded/built on treason... ^_^

[@f.palmero5010]

No one: Cod Bullet hole Artists: I chose the gun.

[@patrickparmer1648]

A-to the motherfucking-men.

[@gbm6882]

Britain: Pay ur taxes America: No Britain: No you gotta do yoyr civic dutes America: (...)GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!” - said one guy who may or may not have owned slaves, “Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”.- said another who definitely owned slaves Britain: Then war it shall be America: *Wins War* America: Alright so what now? States: Piss off Federals: Piss on dare I say? Without centralized government we are but another snake sliced and chopped into thirteen pieces States: Ah yea ok Feds: So we start off with having federal taxes so we can fund a continental army or use it for general welfare States: Makes sense to me Feds: And we have 3 centralized sectors of government in D.C. so we can make decisions fast States: Yeah Feds: And we will use our continental taxes to expand westward so we can find room for the growing population States: Makes sense to me Feds: And those lands will be conquered, colonized and incorporated into our em- I mean union States: Do what you want America: *skips a few years while also having the white house burned* Feds: so this slavery thing is getting out of hand huh States: *divides into two* Northerns: frick slavery Southerns: Yes slavery America: *Skips some time ahead* Southerns: This is unethical and unlawful encroachment on our states’ rights National Guard with a gun aimed: Say that again America: *Skips some more time* Also America: WELCOME TO THE AGE OF SOCIAL REFORM America: *Skips some more time* Also America: WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE OF THE AGE OF SOCIAL REFORM America: *Skips some more time* America: *War, yes, there is too much to cover during this period mainly because too many things happened* America: *Skip to the end of the war* Rightists: I think we should chill on the socia- leftists: WOULD YOU LIKE A BETTER RETIREMENT FUND THAT IS ALSO A TAX CUT? WOULD YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT FUNDED ABORTION SERVICE? Rightists: sure whatever Government: guys, how about we do the britain to south america? Government: oh wait no one can hear me be cause I classified these files America: R*pes every corner of the globe until there is a military presence on every continent Leftists: *Discovers this* Leftists: now hold up diddly darn second Rightists: how bout not LEFTISTS: SOCIAL REFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORM

[@RedneckRealist]

“Peace and stability do not come free of charge.” Well said.

[@darbywing2]

He would have you pay for that with your freedom.

[@Valenciarony]

Shhhhh… some people can’t handle the truth!

[@pablobeltran3028]

reminds me of Tom Berenger's dialogue: "Freedom isn't free...!!!"

[@khangnguyen1759]

@@Valenciarony The freedom of our kids in school will require you to sacrifice your resistance fantasy. Same people who are gun nuts also wanted bigger police and military, so that is a contradiction.

[@fshalor738]

The "gun" is only a tool. It's the hearts and minds which will set us free or enslave us. Thank you for your words, van Uhm.

[@stevenb4799]

@N A no thanks

[@CaptainMarko379]

“One sword drawn keeps another in the sheath.” Ancient saying of the samurai which is simple and perfectly clear

[@gunnut81]

My grandfather was one of those men who came to your country and brought his gun. It brings great joy to hear that his and his fellow soldiers efforts have not been forgotten by the Dutch people. May America and the kingdom of Netherlands enjoy long friendship

[@scotty79]

gun nut Before you mentioned you are from America, I thought you were German.

[@autohmae]

The US and other countries did a lot of good work during WWII. And we thank them for it. But it's getting harder and harder to have a good friendship with the US. The US does many things which might have good intentions, but cause more problems than they were trying to solve because they only want to do half of the work these days. The Iraq war is probably a good and fairly recent example. The US went into the country, and left chaos and a power vacuum. Now we have ISIS and lots of refugees. The same thing happened in Afghanistan during the cold war. The US helped the groups in Afghanistan prevent the Russians from taking Afghanistan, after that conflict only chaos and a power vacuum existed, those groups later came to the US and flew 2 planes into the twin towers under the banner of Al-Qaeda. The US/CIA does many of these kinds of things. Many times foreigners think it's not just good intentions but also oil and profit that drives these decisions. This makes the US an unpredictable partner. In the past the US, for example in Europe and Japan, not only drove away or killed the bad people but helped rebuild the government. This helped create a lot of prosperity for those countries, but more importantly also for the US. So we know this model already worked really well. It's a sad situation.

[@GreatValueBleach]

gun nut was your grandfather part of the German army?

[@nicholaspetros7267]

autohmae as an American, and not a particularly leftward-leaning one, i hear you and i agree with you for the most part. personally, i'm against war, but i think that the US has already earned a reputation for being the police of the world to an extent, so i feel like we do have somewhat of a moral obligation to stand for those who cannot do so, and drive away those who wish to do harm to innocent people. i agree that the world can't rely on the US currently. national ties are a bit shaky right now but that will pass. someone above in the comment section said something that i found fitting for the world today. hard times breed tough men, tough men create peaceful times, peaceful times create weak men, weak men create hard times. i think we're just in the weak men/hard times part of that cycle right now, and i hope that in the next few decades or sooner, that my country can stand tall along with europe and anyone else who wishes to promote a better world for the good and the innocent.

[@jorgemendez4517]

nicholas petros Yeah, we need desperate the strong men again. I have always admired some of the things that Americans did in the past century. for the past 40 years, things havent gone so well. Hope the circle keeps going.

[@LanternOfLiberty]

I was born and raised in Sweden. I served in her JROTC, Army mandatory service and 11 years in the National Guard in the 1980s and 1990s. I have now been an American for almost 25 years. I own many guns and train regularly. I believe that all citizens who feel comfortable doing so, should own at least a long gun and practice often. Freedom does not come free. If the population of NE Bosnia had been able to defend themselves, I might not have had to deploy there and might not have had to kill those who attacked our patrol. It was worth it, though.

[@theRPGmaster]

I was also born and raised in Sweden. I completely agree with you. I practice shooting regularly, but laws where I live are sadly not as good as in the US. I'm jealous!

[@oddjonsson2815]

In a country like Bosnia in the 90s that may be true. However we see when the state monopoly of violence is lost or is dispersed. The amount of violence within even a democratic society like the US, increases dramaticly. That may be why the amount of gun violence in the US is so high. Since pretty much everyone in most states can without difficulty buy a firearm. So no, I strongly disagree with you. There are however some pros with an armed populous but in my mind that does not outweigh the negatives in a developed society. Having a firearmed trained civilian population is a good thing for times of need is good, so if need be they can be armed to defend themselves and their country. A constantly armed populous is not.

[@oddjonsson2815]

Tack för din insats!

[@joesmith8784]

@@oddjonsson2815 With all due respect you couldn't be more wrong. The main point of having an armed population is to prevent a tyrannical government from overstepping it's boundaries and infringing on the rights of the people. Furthermore the places in the US with high gun violence DO NOT allow citizens to concealed/open carry or they make it extremely expensive and very difficult for the average citizen to legally do so. This is why we end up with 97% of mass shootings in "gun free" zones and most of the firearm homicides in places with extremely tight gun laws. The crime for possession of an illegally obtained firearm is 3 years minimum sentence but criminals will do this anyways so it leaves law abiding citizens defenseless. Also not just any US citizen can easily buy a legal firearm there is a FBI federal background check conducted on anyone who buys a gun over the counter that takes into account your criminal history/ mental issues and it takes 3 days minimum in states with looser gun laws and up to a year in places like NewYork city. Keep in mind the state can have very loose gun laws like in Florida but you can have a city like Miami with very tight guns laws and this will always cause the per capita firearm homicide rate to be much higher in the liberal leaning city than in the rural cities (check FBI statistics for proof). Keep in mind this is the per capita rate so its not because of population density it's because of unconstitutional restrictions on Americans 2nd amendment rights. Look into what happened in Kenesaw Georgia when the city required the head of every household own a firearm look into what happened in Orlando in the 70s when the police department trained 2,500 women on how to use a gun to defend themselves (home invasions dropped over 80% and rvpe dropped 90%+ respectively). My gun is my best friend and I will never give her up

[@oddjonsson2815]

@@joesmith8784 I suppose the situation is very different then between the US and most of Europe. The idea that the citizenry should have weapons to, if necessary, overthrow an illegal government is just not most other democratic countries can understand since we have a much higher degree of trust in our institutions. Also the idea that an armed citizenry, even in the US could stand up against the American armed forces is simply not realistic, if they would become a repressive regime tool. The statistics are clear as well. The US have incredibly many mass shootings and most of those weapons were acquired legally. Australia did away with their gun laws that were similar to the US and low and behold. There haven't been a mass shooting since. I get that banning ordinary citizens to own guns in the US would be INCREDIBLY difficult. So maybe such a solution isn't viable. Criminals will always be able to acquire guns but people still aren't able to defend themselves if they don't have a gun available all of the time which of course, most don't. Personally I'm trained with firearms. I serve in the armed forces and am not uncomfortable with them. I am however VERY uncomfortable with the idea of most ordinary civilians carrying them on the street. In pockets, hand bags etcetera. Since they don't have the same training as I do.

[@austinmiles5852]

We used to have a cadence we sang when I was enlisted. “Some say freedom is free, Well I tend to disagree, I know freedom is won, Through the barrel of a gun.”

[@badwizard1312]

History shows that’s exactly right. I was Air Force. We didn’t March much. Certainly had no cadence, but I’ve been say exactly that for decades. “Freedom is won with the barrel of a gun.” Think not. After all those weeks of protest in Hong Kong look what the result was.

[@holdintheaces7468]

"Sometimes, only the gun can stand between good and evil." Brings to mind the common saying "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

[@Nergal_Slayer]

"World needs bad men. We keep the other bad men from the door. " -Rust Cohle

[@D_Chess]

One of my favorite Orwell quotes. I still get slightly emotional at times when I hear it or speak it.

[@williampfaffjr7684]

Amen.....

[@kbanghart]

@@D_Chess so sad that a lot of the 2A nutjobs think that it justifies their reasoning.

[@benjamintherogue2421]

@@kbanghart And what do you imagine that reasoning is?

[@cameltanker1286]

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!” Benjamin Franklin

[@CitizenPerkins]

Hehehe -- I like that last part! 👍🤣 (Let me spiff that up for you:) *Democracy* is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. *Liberty* is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! -- _Benjamin Franklin_

[@johngraf4283]

I'm a SHEEPDOG!

[@sansocie]

Ben was correct

[@peacebestillgaming3073]

while all three of them are enslaving the black sheep

[@tomryan5948]

You should make a t-shirt with fully kitted operator lamb.

[@bryanlangley5337]

In 2011 I was serving with the U.S. Army in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan -- a base built by the Dutch. Rather than use unarmored 20-foot containers to house their soldiers, they used HESCO barriers and metal plates to protect the housing units. This proved key when, one night, one of the units housing six of my soldiers was hit by a rocket. I give credit to the Dutch Army for preventing their deaths -- if General Van Uhm's army hadn't learned from his father's unfortunate experience with an old gun, I imagine there would be six more people with at Purple Hearts rather than Combat Action Badges.

[@steveowen5143]

I was in Tarin Kowt 2010-2011 just after the Netherlands govt decided to pull out. Their civil-military operations team trained us before we went over. They left behind their share of blood and treasure, and I have a lot of respect for what they did in TK.

[@Area-51td3vq]

I Thank both of you for your service 💯✌️

[@TEAserOne]

That sounds like typical Dutch Engineering. We have a saying: "Better do something good once, then bad and do it twice" I guess another part is also that the Dutch army doesn't have the funding the US has, so I guess, it might sound very morbid, but it's probably true that the Dutch Army really can't afford losing soldiers, whilst for the US it's a small cost. Not implying the US army doesn't try it's best to avoid combat losses, but I guess a small nation like The Netherlands has to go through extra hoops to ensure safety sometimes :D

[@kevinhines3706]

This is what a hero sounds like. Leaders like this empower soldiers to drive on even when they don’t fully understand what their part of a mission means to overall success. God bless you sir!

[@Hodmokrin]

Weapons can bring freedom, as they can bring tyranny, it only matters who's hands they are in and who's they aren't.

[@DWHalse]

Thank God they are in the right hands in America! The People's hands. Any Hitler will find him/her self up a shitcreek without any paddle!

[@ernestpaul2484]

And that is exactly why we have the 2nd Amendment in our Constitution, to protect all the other Amendments and our freedom as citizens, not subjects.

[@quickdeuce]

Thank you Hodmokrin, truer words were never spoken. Emphasis is on "who's they aren't". Thank GOD for our 2nd Amendment!

[@ethandonnelly1973]

This talk is about armed forces, soldiers. People that have been checked, verified, people that do not take the gun for granted. Not civilians. This talk is not a justification of American constitution. It is not a justification for the three of you, to wield guns. And I mean no offense when I say this, for I can only base it off what you have said in these comments, but you did not understand the point being made here. All of you are comfortable with your guns, and in fact have a reverance for them. This speaker has disgust for them, But an understanding of the need for them IN PROPER HANDS. Under proper laws, regulation, and guidance. The american way is "If you have a gun, just use it when you think you need it" And yet the only situations in which you need it, are the ones in which no civilian would be capable of coherent thought, only instinct. And you seem to have ignored that point. This talk is not for you, it never was. And personally, I do not think any of you would be a person this speaker would agree with, simply for your lack of respect towards what a gun is, and the human life it can take. I speak respectfully to you all, when I say you should take some time to rewatch this, and think about it without considering your constitution. David, You speak of disorganized vigilante concepts. John, You speak of who is the right people to wield them. And this speaker has pretty clearly outlined that only people that do not wish to use them, and would like to see them removed, and who would only use them under the strictest of instruction from an authority kept in check, are the people that should have these weapons. This talk is to bring respect and understanding to what it means to be a soldier under democratic command, and to inform people that when they support this man and his men, This is what they are supporting. I do not think you understood that, if you took it as an endorsement of your possession of weapons. Please, Rewatch, and listen. And do not think of yourselves, for thats not what this is about.

[@jessezendejas4627]

Same can be said about rhetoric, ie hitlers anti Semitic rhetoric. All depends on who is using it

[@POBulkhead]

"This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine..."

[@carlospena9453]

Show me your war face

[@jamesthornton3670]

This one's for killin, this one's for fun!

[@Will_theIV]

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

[@adamsmaase2581]

There are many like it... but this one is mine.

[@nigelft]

I would give you a like ... but there is no such caliber as a 229 ... 😊

[@MoleFortress]

I chose a guitar. But, I come from a place where there are ten guns for every guitar. I absolutely agree with this speaker. Some good people must choose guns. Some good people must choose the sword, or the bad ones will rule the world.

[@_.BlackArmor._]

I chose a pen. We need God and each other to survive this world and it's madness. Until it's over.

[@pitagoras3468]

I was hoping to find a song on your channel. You let me intrigue about your choosing

[@Ogrematic]

All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.

[@xXx_Oshino_xXx]

@@_.BlackArmor._ "whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously doesn't know automatic weapons." - General Douglas MacArthur

[@johnrildo2325]

@@_.BlackArmor._ The pen only has power when it commands an army of gun wielding soldiers.

[@AwokenEntertainment]

I respect his want to use a gun for peace and stability

[@ProtectChildrenNotGuns]

We're the murder capital of the world among other developed nations. Thank the guns

[@pedrorocha4817]

The matter is he doesn't want YOU have a gun.

[@matthewjones39]

10:20

[@SgtBuck01]

The best samurai is one that knows how to use his blade, but keeps it sheathed unless absolutely necessary.

[@Carebear_Pooh]

Sgt. Buck ok sensei

[@koolaidman8048]

Same with a good America citizen

[@AmokBR]

You can't know how to user it unless you use it with a certain frequency.

[@ProfiresKnight]

@@AmokBR Training and practice exists.

[@ildart8738]

@ALSO-RAN ! Eeh - basically bring a gun to a sword fight?

[@apex_7766]

8 years now, and still relevant. I listened to this man's words and waited for some political agenda, there was none. He truly has my respect, regardless of me being American and he from the Netherlands, I salute him as a soldier nonetheless.

[@SuPerTrapp87]

Then you were not listening very well at all. He is advocating for solely the government to have guns and not citizens.

[@TheJTcol]

Really? Hey you need a little practice on your critical listening. Don't you see he is advocating for the confiscation of private firearms? Just like the Nazi's and the communists. A government policy of having a monopoly on violence has led to the slaughter of over a 100million people in the last hundred years probably much more than that. Give groups like the Democrat party that are constantly looking for new groups of victims to murder, first the un-born then the newly born now the sick and elderly and soon the deplorable's . Just let them have your guns and find our how fast the start making the world into their utopia. A world without freedom loving patriots.

[@dylanmorgan2752]

Who are these Americans wanting other countries to have as many guns as they do? Netherlands is a small peaceful country, last thing they need is a hundred thousand rifles and pistols lying around in cottages for absolutely no reason. It has literally no effect on American gun laws and I don’t see why there would ever be a reason to automatically not mutually respect someone just because you’re from two different countries.

[@jozefsan]

i doubt you understanding what he talking about.......but same goes for your Math :-D

[@travushaynz547]

Do you instictivly not respect someone from another country?

[@jackofmanytrades4396]

Q: "Why do you need an AR-15?" A: "Because I don't have superpowers."

[@glemwheatley9425]

Jack of Many Trades And, unlike many vocal anti-gunners, I can’t afford an armed bodyguard.

[@jackofmanytrades4396]

@Jackson Turner True. The most common (military) version is chambered for a varmint round.

[@jackofmanytrades4396]

@Jackson Turner Yes, .223/5.56 NATO is essentially a varmint round. It is illegal to use that round for hunting deer or other larger game in many US states.

[@glemwheatley9425]

Still my favorite weapon, thanks to endless, monotonous training during my military life. I can load it, shoot it, clean it, fix a jam, break it down, reassemble it, identify all the parts, teach someone else these things... basically, it’s the one weapon with which I am extremely comfortable and don’t have to keep turning to my husband asking him to remind me what he told me 3 times already about the gun I’m currently shooting. I think all shooters should use the weapon with which they are most comfortable when given the situation they will need it. Unfortunately, no one makes handbags large enough for them, so I carry a pistol when I’m out and about. But they’re a great home defense weapon and no one is taking mine. Ever. Even after I’m, you know.

[@rosendorx77]

two thumbs up

[@theoriginaldonutdude4950]

This needs to go viral for today’s world it seems as though many of us have forgotten what a gun can do for the good people

[@2adamast]

Since 1914 the guy with the gun holds the terrain, artillery and equivalent do the killing. And of course, generals will pep talk their cannon fodder.

[@boerbeun]

His main point was gun-monopolys. Not safety. You are not safe domestically if your government decides to turn against you. History has seen MANY examples of genocide right after disarmements

[@625098evan]

10:20 - he said state monopoly on violence. this man is not interested in good people having guns. he is interested in government people having guns. theoretically legitimized by free elections. I've heard that one before.

[@theoriginaldonutdude4950]

@@625098evan I didn’t even catch that that’s crap

[@1337_bean]

@@theoriginaldonutdude4950 lmao, "i can't have my own gun so that sucks"

[@peacefulwarrior4151]

I would rather have a gun and not need it... than need a gun and not have one

[@moto1p1]

#me too

[@arbyarby3259]

Well put .....well put!!

[@xandervincent9374]

Amen

[@TheArabianKnightMC]

My reason for carrying. Stay safe, brother.

[@deadeyecpt.7765]

Wish I could carry one here in Italy, sadly we cannot. Americans are more lucky than they know. Do not give up your guns, guys.

[@smashing523]

"Si vis pacem para bellum" - If you want peace, prepare for war.

[@johncarter6238]

if guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns, god created man samuel colt made them equal

[@khorehmandirani]

@@johncarter6238 John Browning and Mikhail Kalashnikov are unpleased due to the lack of mention ;-;

[@johncarter6238]

@@khorehmandiraniJohn Browning and Mikhail Kalashnikov are top key figures. S&W too. but Kalashnikov is at the top of my list, his weapon the AK47 is the most produced weapon in the world in many countries, without a AK, A Terorist is no longer a Terorist

[@sevenseth1612]

@@johncarter6238 You don't need a gun ak or ar or else. Even a blade or a simple piece of wood can be use for the good or bad reasons.

[@johncarter6238]

@@sevenseth1612 Yes it is, but I defend my life better, with a Glock 17 - 9MM, Than a bat / knife / or a piece of wood / or else

[@mrpirate6187]

"Don't quote people like this and neglect to put their name at the end"

[@rowanfernsler9725]

-George Washington, 1573

[@k.t.1641]

-Mr Pirate, 1 week ago

[@hangman361.6]

-me, 1967

[@johnmulligan1605]

Micheal Phelps 2037

[@IdleWorker]

@@k.t.1641 incorrect. 1 month ago.

[@justatallguy]

"The price of a rule is enforcement". An old and wise saying I heard in many languages. It also conveys simply the price of freedom and peace. The law is nothing but a set of rules, with no enforcement, having the rule means nothing. This will never go away, because there are always people willing to break the rules for personal gain and selfish motives, and someone else, who understands the price of rules, has to show up and enforce them. This works for everything in life, big or small, it simply is. We use whatever tool we have, right now those tools are firearms.

[@xstrawarot]

To sum it up: Weapon for self defence good, only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun.

[@ghollisjr]

It is a truth so simple and profound that only someone who wants to hurt you would tell you otherwise.

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

Bad guys don't care about laws. They will buy guns regardless illegally.

[@TheJTcol]

I really don't think you were listening good enough. His true message was that the state should have a monopoly on violence. Much different than the message you got. So to sum it up if you listened well is that the people should submit to to ruling class and STFU.

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

Jay ThColonel Which is why i disagree with him.

[@USMCArchAngel03]

Exactly! Let's spend all the time and effort into turning some of those bad guys into good guys instead of grabbing guns.

[@GoingRampant92]

It's amazing how many friendly people you meet when you have a gun.

[@jonathanwright5550]

I find people are now too disconnected from rural life style that brings more common firearm use... here in New Zealand licensed fire arm owners took the blame for tarrants behavior....

[@jeffprice6421]

An armed society, is a polite society. :)

[@itsnerfornothing7554]

@@jeffprice6421 an armed society is a society living in fear. If the guy next door can buy a gun, you fear him and buy one of your own, and now you cant leave the house without one. No guns means no fear of guns

[@jeffprice6421]

@@itsnerfornothing7554 Nothing you just wrote is true. I have no idea if my neighbors are armed. I neither care if they are are armed or fear it. Japan has no guns and yet Abe was assassinated with one. The children in the day care in Oklahoma city were killed by a ryder truck willed with fertilizer and fuel oil. The airline passengers on 9/11 were killed by men with box cutters. Violence comes form the heart of man. Fixating on banning objects will NOT bring you safety. Look at Great Britain. They banned guns and yet they still have lots of violence. So now they are trying to ban knives. When that doesn't work, what next? Ban rocks and sticks? Is it the ultimate fate of humanity to be sitting naked in cushioned rooms where they cannot be harmed? That rather sounds like the state humans were kept in the movie the matrix. Is that living? Better dangerous liberty than safe servitude.

[@donkeedic4451]

@@itsnerfornothing7554 as a knife, I agree with your statement

[@mcnallywacka]

Honestly, one of the best TED talks I’ve heard to date.

[@popcornsaidfu8757]

Agreed, cheers my friend 🍻🍷🥃!

[@clintrhoads7799]

Right on! The best I've ever heard

[@davesackenheim2937]

I've heard a few Ted talks that were interesting but most of them are fish heads

[@jeffsmith2144]

Nuke 'em !!!

[@artnucicncus1005]

Congratulations, you are braindead.

[@billrasmussen4716]

As a vet who was there- I thank you

[@neversaydiegaming4868]

Speaker: Some of you may feel uncomfortable around this gun. Americans: I want!

[@joebank6556]

Legit I do want. Lol. I’m a classic American. Where are you from?

[@joebank6556]

Neversaydie Gaming damn lucky. I’m Californian so I have ridiculous gun laws.

[@mr.lostrythm7876]

Not even gonna lie, that gun looks so cool!

[@drew7155]

Haha yep. They think a one million man army can conquer 300 million people with a half a billion guns. Idc how much technology advantage there is I'll put my money on the people every day. Just like the founders designed

[@joebank6556]

I just proved something I knew a while ago. The best way to piss off Americans is to say the Government will beat them in a war. I changed this comment so you see how hilarious their responses are

[@Tex-el7kk]

Most of these comments missed the point of this ted talk

[@benjaminchen4367]

Yeah this wasn't a Ted talk abt gun control or gun ownership, it's 7 years old lmao

[@tineriddell5733]

True but us gun owner are still gonna talk about it

[@JusticeBackstrom]

No, most of the comments are rebutting the talk.

[@Tex-el7kk]

Justice Backstrom from what I am reading, the first 5 comments or so are probably from Americans quoting pro gun quotes. They are agreeing with a point that he never made yet assumed formed the title. They are not rebutting the talk much. I might need to scroll further down.

[@JusticeBackstrom]

@@Tex-el7kk No, they're not agreeing with him they're rebutting him. I'm an American. My comment on this video is pro gun, and it's a rebuttal. Don't try to tell me thet I think I'm agreeing with him.

[@neo4016]

"the netherlands is a peacefull country" dutch new years eve: allow me to introduce myself

[@booz8313]

💀💀😂😂😂

[@friendlyjester8482]

2020 Versie: Regering: ''Hé jongens, geen vuurwerk dit jaar, er is een nieuwe wet'' Illegaal vuurwerk: ''Jullie volgen wetten?''

[@stroopeter]

@@friendlyjester8482 het bbp van belgië gaat dit jaar met 700% omhoog

[@friendlyjester8482]

@@stroopeter G E K O L O N I S E E R D

[@jesusemmanuelcordero4509]

@@friendlyjester8482 as a Mexican who lived in the Netherlands since 2017. Those random fireworks keep me happy at nights as it reminds of the gun shots back home. Truly beautiful 😍.

[@nixonsmateruby1]

This is a man who I would leave Britain to protect, and probably the reason our grandparents did. Thank you for your service. My dad was a soldier, and my hero. We in Europe (western) have learnt that violence is needed, and can deliver it, but the spear can be kept in a cupboard out of sight. Other nation's flaunt their spears in a show of bravado, while we get on with life, and create things useful to humankind, instead of living in the past, like Russia.

[@wynandkoegelenberg5659]

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Theodore Roosevelt

[@kilroysadventures2556]

When the government fears the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny.... Thomas Jefferson

[@DownWithBureaucracy]

And guess what countries are now confronted with civil wars due to oppressive government? Hong Kong anyone?

[@jacobbowl303]

Kilroys Adventures literally every leader ever

[@DownWithBureaucracy]

@Yeshua is Lord. but China is. Y'know, the country that Hong Kong could really use some firearms to protect themselves from?

[@nous93]

People don't need guns to scare government

[@kilroysadventures2556]

@@nous93 sheep

[@istp1967]

"Eternal vigilance is a price we must be willing to pay; if we are to maintain our freedom" -- Aldous Huxley, 1958.

[@2004done-Stll]

It doesn't seem to me often that both Reason and Reality are presented in the same TED talk.. Thank you, Peter van Uhm

[@kimocoloma4123]

How did Our Forefathers foresee of an evil empire or tyrant as we call it in America would someday arise to rule a nation may be the world and the people could not fight or defend themselves and their families because of a Democrat Law to prevent owning even confiscate their guns. They were genius. Who are becoming Nazi's? I'm soooo confuse.

[@ThZuao]

It is currently 20:53 in Brazil and I'm about to leave for my workout routine. I don't live in a violent part of town, but I expect to be back home by 23:30, so I only bring my keys with me. I am that afraid of being robbed. And living in one of the countries with the strictest, longest living (since 1936) gun control laws in the world, that only got stricter after 2004, literally one of the first things the socialist we elected president did. Crime is rampant. Gun deaths skyrocketed. And it just got worse with the recent economic downturn. The government took our guns. Paid R$100 for a R$4,000 pistol. And if you didn't went to the federal police to turn them over, they were kind enough to visit you on your house to get them. All while saying they were doing us a favor. And living where I live for the past 7 years, I never saw Police on the streets. Even though I live 3 blocks away from the station. A guy once offered me a cellphone he had just robbed somebody for. And it was literally across the street from the police station. If the state has the monopoly over force, what should we do if it doesn't care about us citizens? Should we just lay down and die quietly? Firearms are a must have in these lawless parts. Problem is, only outlaws have'em. And here, "outlaw" describes both a robber and an otherwise law abiding citizen who happens to have a firearm. I don't get myself one because the odds of getting in trouble with the law are higher than actually needing to use it.

[@necroticossuary]

You complain about rampant crime and the absence of police, but you are more afraid of the police than criminals. I don't get it.

[@redorange]

Necrophage if you have never lived in a country with a corrupt government you will never understand. In some places there is no difference between the criminal and the police.

[@agustinsosa5888]

@@necroticossuary i am from argentina and i get it. You have to live 1 mouth in any latin country. Or go to venezuela one week.

[@Mtaalas]

But this means that these countries are failed ones. They don't have police/army holding the democratically given monopoly on violence and no effective police force or law enforcement that the speaker in the video is arguing about. Thus as long as the government is a failed one, none of these arguments if one should own a gun at let's say Finland apply. We have no gun control issues, no rampant violet shootings or corrupt government/police that are indistinguishable from criminals... U.S.A is in that sense a failed state since they can't hold on to the monopoly of violence by democratically elected government but require civilians to arm themselves to protect themselves... A country should be safe enough to walk unarmed at 1:00AM through the city center alone... if it's not, there's a bigger issue than "you should have a gun with you!!!"... nobody should need to have a gun or other weapon on themselves when walking at night.

[@agustinsosa5888]

@@Mtaalas Let's try this. Take any ranking table wich show the position of Finland liberty economy and in the other hand look for argentina. That is the first point. The second Finland is one of the countries wich has the biggest sung of armed people of the world. Third. Finland's right to private property is stronger than any latin country Fail state HA. C'mon have you ever seen any politicians watching for their own people? Fail state. You make my day.

[@bobbertee5945]

This General lost his son in Afghan in 2008.......

[@N0lan15]

How is that relevant to anything he was talking about?

[@TheShadow960]

+Nolan A1 Did you even listen?

[@lordilluminati5836]

it means he believes so strongly in what he says that even having lost his son to them, his ideal remain.

[@jkphilosophy101]

for invading a country

[@mbpaintballa]

you mean helping remove the invaders. dont forget the taliban arent afgani

[@semirslezovic4533]

"We get dirty and the world stays clean, that's the mission"

[@Peppadank69]

Semir Slezovic nice capt price quote

[@semirslezovic4533]

@@Peppadank69 thank you andre

[@funnyvalentine5407]

Krii Fii ok boomer

[@semirslezovic4533]

@@user-de6ex4ep1n it's not about the character but what the message portrays

[@amierullridzwan2025]

Captain price 2019

[@christianeasley767]

This man--is speaking from the heart!!!!!! Some of us gave up all of our tomorrow’s to make sure that our countries tomorrow’s dreams always came true!!!!! To protect everything within our area of responsibility and sacrifice it all to do so-- from any soldier from any country---that’s how much you love what you are fighting for!!!!! 😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓 SALUTE, BROTHER!!!!!!!! 20 + years of service!!!!! SALUTE, SIR!!!!

[@lukevj]

I don’t carry my gun to kill, I carry my gun to save a life if needed... I take responsibility for my own safety

[@leevkop8229]

I feel safe in the Netherlands because I know most people don't have a gun. I totally understand that if people in your area have guns that you would want / need one yourself but if you live in a safe country where guns are illegal and uncommon it would only make matters worse because then the lethality rate for self defense would go up. So in short: having gun in country with many guns? Sure. Having gun in country with close to no guns? No thank you.

[@grenadeout562]

@Good Ol'boy whe you said "average" that implies that it most likely doesn't apply to all black people

[@ProfessionalNeet222]

@@leevkop8229 u say that till someone pulls a knife on u. U live in the Netherlands. Very different from America or South America where gangs are rampant and the culture is extremely different

[@leevkop8229]

@@ProfessionalNeet222 did you not read the part where I said that I understood that?

[@ProfessionalNeet222]

@@leevkop8229 yes. But u make it sound like cause u live in the Netherlands nothing bad will happen to u. That is a terrible way of thinking

[@edmc1000]

My wife and I were able to visit the Netherlands this spring during the Invictus Games. The people were gracious and friendly. We saw the competition and camaraderie between the many countries in the games. I will always remember the spirit of those injured but unbeaten soldiers. Support our veterans ! As they serve to keep us all safe.

[@sgtcrusher66]

sheep usually are very docile

[@TEAserOne]

@@sgtcrusher66 So the Dutch are sheep now are we? Little rude ngl.

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

@@sgtcrusher66 Like the sheep following the propaganda of the NRA that's fully supported by the ever-greedy weapons industry?

[@riccardos2955]

To sum it all up If you want peace prepare for War:

[@huntme2]

Riccardo S... Si vis pacem para bellum= if you seek peace prepare for war. Hence the 9x19mm

[@robertkendall1037]

Yep, make the others not want to try it

[@DWHalse]

Very adroit comment and America is back on the right track! Deterrence costs...and you cannot maintain peace without $$$$$$$

[@eduardocastro8757]

SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM

[@sivansharma5027]

No, I think you missed half the talk... If you want peace, establish trade etc. War/conflict is reserved for protecting your country against invaders, but there's no better way to discourage invaders than to have them stand to lose by going to war versus engaging in peaceful interactions like trade.

[@AccedeWithMe]

Him: many of you may feel uncomfortable Me: I have the same sight set up. what kind of light is that?

[@razgrizbird4562]

I respect this man for his presentation and bearing, and for his opinion. I think this also applies, at least in America, to the balance between the people and government. Our history of becoming free from a tyrannical government, and subsequent implementation of the constitutional amendments, are intended to create a balance and harmony between the people and governing bodies. No rational member of society wants to see violence used on another person. A gun is not owned with the intent to cause harm, but rather to prevent harm from being dealt to others. It is a tool to prevent and protect.

[@dlcalliope]

He does not address the takeover or attempted takeover of a prosperous Democratic Constitutional government by a rogue dictatorial self-interested group as has happened in Venezuela, Cuba and as is happening in the U.S.A. now. We have a corrupt senile place holder mouthpiece (Biden), bribed by the Chinese Communists, who is an enemy of the people, who likely stole the last election (there is much proof of this) doing everything in his power to weaken the nation, to pit people against each other, while they protect criminals and attempt to take away weapons from the populace. We American citizens will never give up our arms. We are protected by the Second Amendments which was formulated so that "We the People" can defend ourselves against a rogue illegitimate government. The freedom of the whole world rests on the results of the next 2 American elections. The left lies, slanders as a weapon against their opposition. Truth is not a leftist value. They will be defeated.

[@razgrizbird4562]

@@dlcalliope After reading your comment, I have edited my original to reflect that I believe my statement to be the intent, not result, of the current structure. I do not believe our government is currently working as it is supposed to.

[@aaronatwood9361]

🙏 Amen.

[@mystuff1405]

When a government attempts to destroy it's own Constitution what can you do without a gun? The only question is at what point do good men have to intervene. That is the difficult question that determines the difference between patriot heroes and simple anarchists.

[@JJ-kp3um]

so true

[@startmeup775]

As a reservist I had to do a duty at the target end of a rifle range, raising, lowering and marking targets. We were protected by a concrete bunker and sat below the targets, but the bullets came within a meter or two above us. I wish I could convey the sizzling sound of multiple 7.62mm rounds as they passed overhead, smacked into the targets and then into the stop butts. It was as they say, a sobering moment. All our training and yes, shooting was a vital part of that, was a good experience. But being on that butts party relieved me of any desire to see active service.

[@richardlovell7316]

I was attached to a MO Company in Miesau, FRG and had the honor of training for my Schutzen Badge with a great group of soldiers from both sides....what a blast the training was and meeting the FRG soldiers. Did something similar near Bremerhaven with the Brits that trained to go to Northern Ireland. Another great group go ups that could drink and train.

[@soldierboyUSA20]

Being under that range pit does not guarantee safety; we were conducting range target detail in Oberdachstetten, GE in the 80's, when we heard a ricochet, it was too late to duck at the speed of that 5.56 mm. A Soldier holding the wooden hoist was grazed on his cheek by that bullet; too bad there were no cell phone cameras then.🙏

[@startmeup775]

@@soldierboyUSA20 wow, very lucky by the sounds!

[@davidh4374]

sounds like a good assignment to send all consiencious objectors to. It would build respect for them and so it would be good for everyone.

[@justme_gb]

"Man the butts." You want me to do what?! At 100 yards, you hear the crack, report, and dirt practically simultaneously. It is definitely un-nerving.

[@originalbluebuddha]

No slave ever owned a gun. No free man ever got that way without one.

[@jaden6640]

that makes zero sense. You are essentially saying without weapons to defend ourselves we are free, but with the ability to defend ourselves, we are not.

[@col.strayga1389]

Commie Logic

[@bluelionsage99]

Actually the CSA armed slaves at the end of the war to fight against the US, and while guns had not been invented yet many slave forces like the Janisaries were armed military units for the power that controlled them.

[@reizayin]

Mark, you can't secure freedom without violence, or the threat of violence.

[@DNFDESTROYER]

They do now. There kin won't turn them in, when the law abiding citizens are forced to

[@eugenewalles]

I'm not ready to outsource my own safety to the people that will never be there when it's needed

[@ShayHawk-GoChiefs]

When seconds count, the police are only minutes away...

[@killer30556]

​@@ShayHawk-GoChiefs Yet if everyone is as armed as the average US citizen its less than seconds since the gun simply makes it easier to kill than say a knife. you can overpower a guy with a knife, you are not overpowering a bullet entering your skull. In the US a gun ban would be stupid since it's not enforceable, they are everywhere after all. In europe we dont have a problem like that. its much more likely you get run over or in verry rare cases get attacked by anyone, let alone soemone with a knife than running into someone who even owns a gun (you can in some places with a license for recreational purposes, hunting or if you are in the military) let alone caries one with the intention to rob or kill. Its just not a thing here, hence why barely anyone thinks like that and why the Chief of defence said what he said. When the only ones with guns are a few heavily restricted police officers and the army, there just isn't that much need for a civilian to have one. We live in an established democracy, a dictator only gets in power if the populations wants it at the time in which case having guns also doesnt help with that (you are not arguing for it but I see it as a common argument from people outside of europe.)

[@homelessalcoholic2716]

​@@killer30556I know you don't live in reality, but take ot from someone who's ACTUALLY familiar with knife attacks, you wouldn't be able to protect yourself at all. Did you know that even trained SAS soldiers can BARELY protect themselves against a knife? This is NOT the movies.

[@eugenewalles]

@@homelessalcoholic2716 you didn't hear about "never bring a knife to a gunfight"? they have to be close enough to be able to use the knife.

[@homelessalcoholic2716]

@eugenewalles See that's the thing, you're getting your worldview from old phrases and TV, whereas I speak as someone who knows what it really looks like. That "rule" doesn't mean very much in practice, and a gun is not some magical talisman that will ward off all harm. Haven't YOU heard of the 21 foot rule, where someone can close a distance of 21 feet in less time than it takes to draw a gun and effectively put it on target. If you haven't personally witnessed knife attacks, I beg of you to do your research and learn what you're coming up against. It's MUCH easier to disarm a gunman than a man with a knife.

[@ross.venner]

"Si vis pacem para bellum." An expression so old that the familiar Latin was a borrowing from even earlier times. "If you love peace, prepare for war."

[@lilvendra6529]

If you want*

[@patrichausammann]

„God made men, but Samuel Colt made them equal.“ Quote with a deep truth from an advertising slogan from the early days of the Colt armory.

[@GiarkReleos]

wasn't true then, still isn't -- sorry for your luck !!

[@PhoenixT70]

@@GiarkReleos No, no, no, you were doing fine. God made man, Sam Colt made them equal, then the government came and made us unequal again.

[@OmnistarEast]

"One man with a gun can control 100 without one"

[@GiarkReleos]

@@PhoenixT70 yeah,because they have the gun. . . THAT's the point. fools !!

[@apfeltasche5669]

... Samuel Colt made them equal. Only talking having power over other Humans which is an ethical-fragile topic. Though, you still can be the devil if you want to...

[@xmacola1239]

“I’m a Mandalorian. Weapons are part of my religion”

[@nikolaosaggelhdis787]

I M A SPARTAN . WEAPON IS ME!!!

[@doriandeslatte8226]

I'm a Marine, one mind, any weapon

[@mqbrown1]

This is the way

[@nand-78]

I am a Filipino. I believe in love and peace religiously.

[@hilliajf]

"i'm an American. Weapons are my religion"

[@kimocoloma4123]

Thank you sir for your recognition of those who came to fight for freedom and especially for those who sacrifice the ultimate price.

[@johnmcclain3887]

It is rare that those who step up and take up arms in defense, get to speak the truth about why we do. I enlisted in the Marines in 1975, for the same reason. I'm glad a man of such words is able to speak so well, so credibly in the name of peace. It only ever comes when good men take up arms, and stand on the wall. Thanks for speaking for a great many of us. I served two decades, I never had to kill anyone, and for that, I'm eternally grateful. Semper Fidelis, John McClain, GySgt, USMC, ret.

[@spacecat7247]

Amen, good sir

[@todkapuz]

why do I feel that 1.8k people just saw the title and clicked dislike and didn't actually listen to speech?

[@lonewolfzor]

Or they listened to the speaker talk about how government Monopoly of violence is good lol

[@giampaolomannucci8281]

todkapuz because you believe you're always right and others must be stupid for not thinking the same as you do you'll go far in life man

[@brazenbull636]

"We don't need no stinkin self preservation! The state will take care of my fate!" Meanwhile these same people claim to have no problem bludgeoning someone to death with a bat. Ive heard that during many gun discussions with leftist. Its just "gun = bad" having been hardcoded into their programming. No real reason for it. The only conclusion i can come to is that they dont want you to have a gun on you when the come and try to bludgeon you to death with a bat..

[@lonewolfzor]

@@brazenbull636 leftist are weak people that don't understand real violence, and don't comprehend the need for a gun, they believe that people have the right to defend, but don't understand that guns are what equalize the playing field for all to defend themselves, to them they only see a weapon for attacking, and to remove that weapon is to help themselves, when right leaning persons view guns as a last resort for self preservation. The individual is not what the left ideology cares about, it's the collective. But humans by nature are not designed to care about 380 million others as if they are family the disconnection between persons leads to a lack of compassion for all when forced compassion becomes rule. The ideology is flawed by nature, historically shown in repetition.

[@The.Red.Tomahawk]

John Sullivan Amen.

[@adhdgames846]

The way this dude talks with his accent makes him sound so professional

[@rosemonthustler5551]

Maybe he is? Maybe hes not?

[@mexicaantj]

It is actually very annoying to me since im actually dutch. I strive to have as good of understanding of the english language as I can, so hearing the highest ranked general of my country who has international conversations every day speak with such a poorly practised accent just grinds my gears.

[@joost505]

Mex Verheijen als hij een Engels accent had geprobeerd had hij zichzelf voor lul gezet.

[@bjarnealgra1452]

Joost505 Die voel ik

[@khalilmartin3101]

@@mexicaantj In my personal opinion the gentleman was very well spoken , perhaps his accent might bother you but his choice of words and pacing is very much on pointand very thoughtful . i cant complain about it myself

[@ehass85]

An immaculate presentation. Fantasticly delivered. I could listen to this gentleman speak all day.

[@Martin.Krischik]

You know who wasn't been invaded in WWI and WWII? Who hasn't fought a war in 170 years? Switzerland - which had a well organised militia with excellent marksman guns for every militiaman. A professional army is not the only option. A well organised militia can defend the country or even better deter attackers just as well.

[@chriskostopoulos8142]

The Swiss never got invaded because they are the bankers to repressive regimes the world over. Plus the country has no strategic value.

[@jackdaknife]

Guess who protects the Pope, the Vatican and all its assets... Yup, Swiss guards and Swiss banks.

[@chriskostopoulos8142]

@@jackdaknife My point exactly ;-)

[@dhardy6654]

Id say we could bowl over them in a few hours.

[@durgan5668]

Terrain was one reason, and after a while, it just wasn't worth the effort. The reason they weren't invaded, is because Hitler never got around to it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tannenbaum

[@Yuri-bt4wl]

*_"Only the gun can stand between good and evil"_*

[@spicecrop]

Wrong.

[@mrswinkyuk]

"SOMETIMES", I notice you missed that little qualifier

[@Ploing]

Why the fear of god? Atheist have moral values. The derive from reason, compassion and ethics and not from the fear of some supernatural being.

[@jacobw446]

I bet that the Netherlands population wished they had more guns in 1940.

[@jedi1234ify]

This is the only ted talk with bullshit comenteers being antagonistic. And it’s because there is a gun involved. You can always tell who the liberals are.

[@NeillWylie]

I enjoyed this a lot. I also respect how seriously he took and delivered his talk.

[@apfeltasche5669]

You need to do that in front of a European audience. Many have a strong bias against weapons because they harm people. I think he clarified nicely on which page he stands.

[@nahumhernandezg2188]

@@apfeltasche5669 ye

[@PhilipFry.]

@@apfeltasche5669 Digger die Rede war in Amsterdam

[@demi3115]

@@apfeltasche5669 lmao. it's a TED talk.. all ted's are like this. But go on generalising.

[@ChrisBrown-pw2lb]

My father used to have a saying,.... "Better to have a gun and not need it, than need a gun and not ha enough it. I'm a 15 year disabled combat veteran of the United States Army.

[@SoftHeartPC]

Thank you for your service. May God bless you and yours.

[@Atlaspower78]

Beautiful words. we have been lulled to sleep and our defense force is secondary at best. The military is a means of teaching young people discipline, it provides a basic education for those who would otherwise not always succeed in society. It provides us with a sense of unity. Imagine your kids, the kids of your neighbour and your boss' kids all serving together, no matter their background or heritage. and never again caught off guard.

[@jimnaz5267]

the military is not some social experiment designed to instill the patriotism, values and skills that should have been taught by parents. The role of the military is to make the cost of war too high for the enemy to benefit from it.

[@garydergut4741]

This is why I think all children in the U S should go through boot camp and serve this Country at least 2 years. I'm not talking as bout going to war. There are many ways they can serve and learn discipline and respect. Just my opinion

[@kbanghart]

@@garydergut4741 some kind of community service, but certainly not military, that would hurt morale.

[@kimocoloma4123]

I'll take it deeper than that. Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms by the people. Hitler and the Nazi's was started in Germany as domestic terrorists. They round up their political adversaries first. King Wilhelm was kicked out of his Empire. When the European people realized an evil empire was taking over they could not fight back. It was no longer a fight like the Roman Warriors of slings and arrows. Hitler and the Nazi's escalated to an evil empire or tyrant as we call in America. Make no mistake our forefathers intended the Second Amendment for this reason.

[@REALRyanCorrado]

I was almost expecting him to finish up with "So sign up today, we set up a recruitment booth right outside"

[@Spanky00Cheeks]

Would you like to know more?

[@DarthErdmaennchen23]

This is Europe, not US, we're not trying to get our military as big as humanly possible.

[@thewierdlemon5956]

@@DarthErdmaennchen23 i think us recruiters have a quota they need to fill

[@DarthErdmaennchen23]

@@thewierdlemon5956 for a number of people you send to certain death, that's great imo

[@arkell7763]

@@Spanky00Cheeks "service guarantees citizenship!"

[@itaieshkar]

"Evil prevails when good men fail to act" Winston Churchill

[@floyddog2283]

The first time I heard that quote was when I died trying to kill Makarov in MW3

[@itaieshkar]

@@floyddog2283 come play CS-GO. You'll hear that a lot ;)

[@hiiambarney4489]

@@itaieshkar Wait, where? All I've ever heard when playing CSGO was Russian insults and mates spamming "EZ PZ LEMON SQUEEZY". For real, I wanna know.

[@itaieshkar]

@@hiiambarney4489 true. But you learn to ignore them and sometimes there are funny people who make it worth while...

[@amoldalwai3961]

@Itai Eshkar "What they ought to say is evil prevails"- Nicolas cage

[@chaosad9754]

As Americans we have a similar philosophy, more like Switzerland, in that firearms are required for a peaceful society, but the citizenry have the right and duty to be armed, not just the government.

[@chloehennessey6813]

There are only two ways to get what you want from another person. 1. You convince them. 2. Take it by force. Having this firearm on my hip isn’t because I’m afraid. It’s so I can be unafraid. It also means that if you want something from me? You only have option one. Unless you’re like the guy in my reply section that’s probably a weeb and believes a person with a knife is more deadly than a trained person with a firearm. P.S This is about everyone’s God given right to defend themselves as they see fit. It’s an inalienable right; it’s not something a government should take away. And if it has? It’s time to move from said country and maybe enjoy a modicum of freedom.

[@cuchulain1647]

You are a badass

[@jacobmccandles1767]

Chloe Hennessey, bravo! I don't see many who truly Get it.

[@bluenoteone]

Yep! What was that Caesar said while he stood on the bank of the Rubicon River? "The die is cast!" Yes, he said that after this: "If you are going to break the law, seize power. Otherwise, obey the law." What did Caesar choose? This fellow would not be standing there if Caesar chose otherwise.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Baelor Mournfang I hope you never choose to find out why the gun makes it invalid.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Baelor Mournfang I’m going to overlook your first statement. Not sure how you landed there. Having this Glock means I have a fighting chance instead of no chance at all because I’m 5’5 and a 105 pounds. The majority of would be aggressors would be twice my size. The gun is the equalizer. Puts me on the same footing as the 6 foot 200 pound person. Can’t believe I had to explain that to you. 😐

[@multiHappyHacker]

Defensive gun uses are held to standards of the justice system, it is absolutely a legitimate use of violence as per the speaker's definition.

[@aaronlayes4485]

multiHappyHacker the legitimate use is weighed by the courts of course but I got what you meant.

[@andgen]

multiHappyHacker Violence is a part of human nature. It will serve those liberals well.

[@MisterCOM]

multiHappyHacker not in the netherlands

[@poggylp1169]

Are you refering to gun use by civilians? Because this contradicts the speech and the stated concepts of a society.

[@jasongoff9723]

Poggy LP this contradicts in no way. we are all soldiers (I served my time too)... in even the 1700's or earlier farmers took a stand as civilian / citizen soldiers to protect their families and neighbors... If you choose to not train yourself with skills to protect your family and the thief comes, weak men as you ( untrained ) will contribute to the death of your family and country eventually as a whole. your interpretation of contradiction will prove to be a failure in your life. one who stands for nothing, falls for everything. thank you for your lack of support

[@kunschner]

"Where goods do not cross borders, troops will."

[@aristeidislykas7163]

Kunschner Say that to the self-righteous neocons, my friend.

[@aristeidislykas7163]

"lunatic liberal scum" and neocons are the two sides of the same coin, my "all-knowing" friend.

[@alecstahl2387]

gun is the great equalizer

[@aristeidislykas7163]

...and the knowledge of making bombs, my friend. I was able to steer world history because of my ability to use extreme violence.

[@JohnnyWishbone85]

Not true, actually. Germany's most important trading partner in 1940 was who? Japan's most important trading partner in 1941 was who? The problem is that there will always be people who cannot see that violence is not an effective way to resolve conflict in a way that is just and equitable. For them, we have guns.

[@troybreedlove4195]

That's the best speech I have ever heard. Thank you, and much respect for all the soldiers who risk their life for peace and freedom aroundtheworld. Biblical times we're living in ✨️ 🙌

[@waldotheranger3987]

Let's be clear. this guy isn't advocating an individual right to bear arms, he's advocating for the state to control all force. "state monopoly on force" are his exact words. his reasoning can be used to justify an individual right to bear arms, but that is not what he wants.

[@393strokedcoupe]

The message lost on many I believe.

[@sean3533]

It's still a dissident message to a Ted crowd who believe that violence is a social construct and the west should disarm.

[@wilsontexas]

That's why it's a Ted talk.

[@393strokedcoupe]

@@wilsontexas Yep, a bunch of globalist depopulation hand wrenchers with God complexes.

[@JonSmith-xh2jf]

I don't think the govt should have a monopoly on force. They should be made to ask for permission. It's the polite thing to do.

[@angrysquirrel8816]

"An old gun could not reach the target" *Laughs in 30-06*

[@abram730]

As the rifling wears on the battlefield, a 30-06 can miss a barn door as it likes to tumble.

[@carlitoscf8348]

@@MatthewWatches You need to know history in what he means. In WW1 the Dutch were neutral. After WW1 a pacifist movement moved over most of Europe. No one wanted a war anymore so they didnt put money in defense. The Netherlands had an army so weak you could not even call it an army. They had a few tanks, a few planes and when the Germans stepped in they didnt even had enough ammo to put in their rifles which were BTW mostly from early 1900. The soldiers were real fighters but the equipment failed. And yet they fought for 5 days and the Germans had to bombard the city of Rotterdam to get them on their knees. This frustrated soldiers till the day they died

[@sendingit2601]

This made me laugh out loud

[@MarkoDujlovic]

​@@carlitoscf8348 Who wouldnt be frustrated? Imagine all those skills and knowledge they had yet they had to surrender because they didnt have necessary equipment.

[@Alexwaltman850]

You know you're an American when you look at the generals rifle and think "eh, mine is better"

[@aliharajli95]

LMAO im glad i found someone whose thinking like me

[@johnthiessen4749]

Haha, true. Though the general does have access to full auto and you probably don’t.

[@Alexwaltman850]

@@johnthiessen4749 I mean, we all have access to full auto. It's just most of us can't afford $30k+ for a pre-ban full auto m16

[@dgs266]

John Thiessen you should come to America almost everyone can get a full auto it’s just expensive and time consuming

[@dgs266]

Alex Waltman facts

[@tonymacaronl]

I do not know why I am being recommended this 12 years later, but this was quite the talk and is relevant just as much today as it was 12 years ago, and in WW2 with his father.

[@slimyklimy5703]

Barely relevant today, he talked about a world with peace with the help of the gun to defend it but look at Ukraine now. He talked about their mission to turn Afghanistan into a democracy from a failed state, while funding the undemocratic forces (Taliban) to fight their proxy conflict against the USSR, whom turned on them why then had the ability to giving the right justification in their mind for the invasion. 10 years later the democracy they tried to build got destroyed because they abandoned it and betrayed the people they worked with to let a barbarian group takeover. Hypocrisy is written all over his words and is no more than propaganda.

[@randycarstens1100]

That is why in US we have the constitution that grants citizens the rights to bear arms. Historically governments have been subject to the evils of corruption. The individual is the reason governments exist in the first place. So In trusting the citizens to uphold the legitimacy of governments, is an assurance governments will serve the people and not their self interests.

[@xxice9xx]

Our US constitution does't "grant citizens the right to bear arms." Instead it simply acknowledges it as a basic human right and restricts the governments ability to infringe on said basic human right. However, we've allowed the government to overstep their bounds and those rights are hanging on by a thread.

[@aznazguy]

@@xxice9xx Yup. Rights are not granted, nor can they be legitimately revoked. Even repealing the Second Amendment does not strip away the right.

[@bubblegumgun3292]

@@aznazguy rights don't exist. your "gender" is only a true as it is enforced. and if you have to take it from someone else to provide legitimacy to your rightful claim. well thats socialism

[@turboprickle]

​@@xxice9xx There's no such thing as a "basic human right" to bear arms. The constitution of the US preserves the right of "the people" to bear arms under certain circumstances, i.e. "a well regulated militia". Gun ownership in the US currently bears very little resemblance to what was actually written in the constitution. In addition, it is worthwhile to interrogate the meaning of "the people". At the time the constitution was written, "the people" did not mean all people in the US. And there's a very rich history of the use of guns by a white majority to neutralise non-white minorities, who even today don't seem to enjoy the same freedom to bear arms as the white majority, as evidenced by the kinds of circumstances in which they are murdered by the state even after declaring that they're legally in possession of firearms. In addition, idea that the government has overstepped its boundaries is baseless since gun ownership in the US grossly exceeds the limits of the right granted in the constitution to begin with. And at best, the state has sought simply to regulate the kinds of firearms that the public have access to - and let's be frank, what minimal regulations exist are not very onerous at all.

[@waldotheranger3987]

@@turboprickle Sigh. Notice definition number 3. www.dictionary.com/browse/militia for further explanation: guncite.com/gc2ndmea.html guncite.com/gc2ndpur.html TLDR. Militia can mean any citizen who is eligible for military service. this is one of the many things the founders were referring to when they wrote the second amendment. therefore, anyone of age 18 or over can own a gun, legally, according to the constitution. as for your other points, yes, at the time the constitution was written it did not refer to all people of military age. it does now. and you could argue your point about a white majority suppressing others. so let's fix that.

[@jonnporter6081]

A gun in my hand is worth an entire police force on the phone.

[@Social_Infidel]

When seconds count!!!

[@jst1man]

@Marcos P Any and all that show up late.

[@jonnporter6081]

@Marcos P If they're all on the phone, how many police forces do you want to listen to someone break into your house and do you harm?

[@russmerritt6508]

@Marcos P All of them.

[@jonnporter6081]

@Marcos P Maybe you should get somebody to explain my original post to you. I think we're on the same page. I'm AM pro-gun. When all the shooting is over, use a wood chipper and don't bother the police.

[@vedicdisciple2877]

It's just beautiful listening to the military leader of a country talk about non violence

[@lewisclark5694]

My American father was wounded in the Netherlands during WW2. He loved your people. He always called them brave.

[@TEAserOne]

Thanks to your grandfathers sacrifise we live in freedom now, thank him for that! It's why we still remember his and their sacrifice during the Nationale Dodenherdenking (National Rememberence of the Dead) on the 4th of may and then celebrate our freedom on Bevrijdingsdag(Libiration Day) the day after! We have done this each year for every year after WW2, it's amazing to see the veterans come each year, sadly there are less of them each year, but it's important to us(The Dutch) to show our gratitude to them for their sacrifice.

[@lewisclark5694]

@@TEAserOne thank you! Dad is in Heaven now, smiling at all of us.

[@TEAserOne]

@@lewisclark5694 if I may ask, what company was your dad part of, would love to know more about it. Was he part of the airborn, or regular army? I'm genuinely interested😊

[@lewisclark5694]

@@TEAserOne He was in the 504th

[@lewisclark5694]

@@TEAserOne scars up and down his back…..and he did not want to talk about it much. The gentlest man you ever knew. A sweet man, terrific dad to three of us and a goldmine for our mum.

[@riverfreddy]

Never have I heard a better lecture. From an expert. Thank you Sir. Forever, let the Dutch and Americans be Brothers and Sisters. Let no one dare tear our Counties apart. I would, without hesitation, be led by this Man in battle. TOTAL HONOR, Folks! I will play this again and again to all my friends and all my enemies.

[@jeffprice6421]

I like this talk very much, but the Dutch do NOT have a very good track record. They handed over muslim civilians to Serbs in Sarajevo to be massacred...

[@MrSshagster]

“I did not choose to take up the pen, the brush, the camera. I chose this instrument, I choose the gun”---Peter Van Uhm Words from someone that raises the true reason why

[@gggromay]

Netherlands does not produce practically anything, yet they are a rich country, that is because everything is imported (stolen/cheated) from "poor" countries, then they need people with guns to protect all the riches they accumulate from the people they stole/cheated them from. Thats the true reason why.

[@bhujgredgjoimnhnvssrbb4902]

@@gggromay ah sh!t. I did not think of that.

[@apfeltasche5669]

@@gggromay That's a very onesided view.

[@IlputocapoMateo]

they produce bud

[@beetlejump]

@@gggromay They are a huge international port destination for goods coming into and out of Europe. Good money in that.

[@Gun_Molester]

You can totally trust your Govt...Its not like any Govt ever hurt their own people huh?

[@Shyuthros]

steve holt... reminds me of steven overholt

[@MrGible]

Government is only good at two things, collecting taxes, and killing it's civilians.

[@dolphinshooter2871]

Betting this man would oppose his govt if it became tyrannical. His loyalty is to his countrymen. I admire that.

[@MrGible]

Loyalty goes to god, family, then country. Although countrymen can just as easily replace the country, as it may become what we fear.

[@ZacHawkins42]

Mr. Gible Well said.

[@nech1534]

3:30 that is true and unfortuntely that is something many people in 1st world countries refuse to accept, and unfortunately that causes problems in the long run even to those they want to help.

[@jeffhudson2346]

Those who beat their swords into plow shears, wind up doing the plowing for those who did not.

[@jeffhudson2346]

@RDLONG30 George Washington once said keep sufficient arms and ammunition to resist tyranny, I couldn't agree more. when the end of all things arrive and our lord returns to take his throne, I will do that gladly. That will be the best day, but until then...

[@peterbakpetersen4942]

@@jeffhudson2346 So.. you are waiting for a tyrant you agree with to rule, and then you will give up your guns? In case something like that ever happens, I hope you still support the rights of the people who wants to fight that tyrant.

[@jeffhudson2346]

@@peterbakpetersen4942 what tyrant are you referring to? The Lord is not a tyrant.

[@peterbakpetersen4942]

@@jeffhudson2346 I'm guessing the lord you are talking about is Jesus and as far as I can see, he sure is a tyrant. But since he is dead (if he ever existed in the first place) I'm not really worried about him coming back. But whoever it is you consider your lord, remember that not all people agree and just because you want to give up your guns doesn't mean that anybody else should.

[@lee14631]

@@peterbakpetersen4942 Jesus isn't a tyrant. When he reigns there will be peace because there will no longer be any evil and what good would guns do against God? He is alive not dead. There is historical evidence Jesus is real.

[@ol-Sarge]

Well said. Too often we vilify the gun when it is used to do evil things, when in reality we need to vilify the person holding it.

[@JoeArn1]

Only when the person does evil

[@d.i.m.eproductions6925]

The human mind is yin and yang, it can be the deadliest and it can be the most nurturing. The human mind can create the most destruction, or it can build and create new. A gun is metal and plastic, it can do nothing without a mind to control it. Mental health should be our number one focus, yet we abandon the subject, why?

[@josephcoon5809]

Like government vilifying guns because they want to be the only ones that have them…

[@francosamericanmusings1560]

Precisely. Don't vilify the gun, the tool...vilify the scumbag. Vilify the criminal.

[@billybutlin7857]

It's not the person holding the gun, it's who controls his mind that we have to worry about.

[@TheXREEM]

the gun is harmless without a human behind it

[@00poopmonster]

+Amit Jakoby so? the gun has been invented and it is never going away, or at least not in our lifetime it isnt. and as long as the gun exists, there will be people who abuse it. and as long as there are people who abuse it, there will be a need for people to stop the abusers. stop trying to sound deep with that, "but guns dont kill people ..." sorta bullshit and face the facts.

[@TheXREEM]

+00poopmonster all I am trying to say is that there a to many guns in the wrong hands.

[@greyFCB]

People kill with rocks. better ban rocks forever.

[@XisoLate]

www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/mans-worst-enemy-6-negligent-gun-owners-who-were-shot-their-own-dogs Hmm makes you think of the litany of scenarios a gun could go off anywhere without the owner intending it to.

[@DaveSmith-cp5kj]

Guns never accidentally hurt people if you follow the 4 safety rules. This is something the military, police, and gun owners already know. This is also evidenced by the fact that despite how many gun owners there are in America, by capital there are far fewer rates of gun accidents than car accidents.

[@tonyl3762]

As someone who knows the history of tyranny, the State having a monopoly on guns and violence is NOT a guarantee of peace. Governments, even constitutional states, are quite capable of and willing to violate the rights of its citizens. It is not hard for radicals to even win elected office and then use the machinery of freedom against the people and their freedoms. And culture matters. You can't just train a bunch of foreigners in how to do certain things and expect it to work if their nation doesn't have the culture to sustain the institutions of peace and prosperity. We have seen the failure in Afghanistan now.

[@jakobmax3299]

Yes Afghanistan was a faliure and the and the state couldnt sustain itself. Bur now more than ever is military strength needed. Peace isnt made by pacifists. Peace is by war.

[@tonyl3762]

@@jakobmax3299 Don't mistake me for a pacifist. I'm a believer in peace through strength. I just object to van Uhm's notion that a State monopoly on violence and guns is ideal. It's not. According to traditional American ideals, citizens have a right to their own self-protection, even from their own tyrannical government if necessary. Military violence was needed to kill terrorists in Afghanistan, but the US/West should not attempt to re-build non-Western nations in their image. The only reason it worked in Germany and Japan is because their nation and culture were completely self-contained and demoralized by devastating warfare.

[@Ryan-mech-muffin]

@@tonyl3762 agreed. An armed populace is far superior than a government monopoly. A government monopoly on guns leads to N.Korea, not the Netherlands.

[@demi3115]

Clean your ears. He's talking about democratic elected governments. Your point is not related to his speech.

[@tonyl3762]

@@demi3115 Study your history. You think "democratic elected" government cannot be or become tyrannical? Did you even read my comment? Should I tell you to get your eyes/brain checked? I wrote: "Governments, even constitutional states, are quite capable of and willing to violate the rights of its citizens. It is not hard for radicals to even win elected office and then use the machinery of freedom against the people and their freedoms."

[@jackuber7358]

For this professional soldier to have to stand there and give that speach is a testimony to the irrationality of the vast majority of people with regards to firearms. Truly remarkable and demoralizing.

[@5133937]

I was kinda thinking the same. Excellent speech, but also a shame such a speech even needs to be made, it should be quite obvious already to all.

[@MrM0U53]

@@5133937 I think of it in a different way, similar to the speaker: we live in such peaceful times, that a talk like this is necessary, because we as a people don't need to constantly think about it.

[@mattycakes1161]

The Majority of people do not do crime with firearms, they will defend their nation and their families. It's a small minority that does all the crime, just like with terrorism, there's a small minority of terrorists in the vast ocean of people. I will defend my country, and if necessary, I will defend yours, but I'd rather you be able to do that for yourself. As he said, his Father was troubled his whole life because he couldn't defend his own people.

[@bethyviz]

@@MrM0U53 what’s that saying “good times make soft men?” Or something like that. We’ve been at peace for so long we’ve forgotten what real evil looks like and think that simply by just disagreeing with someone’s point of view that makes them evil. I pray we as a nation can get our heads out of butts and see this man’s point of view before we have to experience war first hand.

[@kbanghart]

@@bethyviz exactly, now we have too many soft people who think that attacking the capital on January 6th was a good thing.

[@E52O4]

The General is not only eloquent, he is a very intelligent communicator. Although I don’t agree with the military as an instrument to uphold international law (I’m a strong proponent for sovereignty), he is correct. The military is an instrument of national power, just as important to keeping the peace as diplomacy, economy, and intelligence (information). I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation, and his passion for the profession of the soldier.

[@anonymouscitizen2732]

I also do not agree that the military should be the only people with guns.

[@jeffprice6421]

Predators, whether individuals or nations, look for victims not a fight. So if you don't look like an easy victim, the predators will look for easier meat. Putler, thought Ukraine was easy meat. The idiot American President told him his response would depend on how much of Ukraine Russia took, which is no deterrence at all... Same thing happened in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Bush's idiot ambassador gave Iraq a neutral position on any plans of an invasion which pretty much gave it a green light. Stupid diplomacy makes war inevitable... Peace in our time...

[@anonymouscitizen2732]

@@techtutorvideos I agree

[@smellfish1430]

Jup, this is the most dutch-english accent you’ll probably ever get to hear.

[@jessehaenen5915]

Typical for an older dutchman. I say that as a dutchman

[@Joshualacruz]

I've heard much worse. He did pretty well actually. I take my hatje off four him. 👌

[@jessehaenen5915]

@@Joshualacruz het gaat uiteindelijk ook niet om het accent maar om de inhoud van de boodschap.

[@Joshualacruz]

@@jessehaenen5915 Eens, eens.

[@thomklarenbeek1639]

No but thats andere koek

[@jimbell242]

Very well said. As a veteran, I agree. But as a free civilian in a free country, post-WW2, and post Cold War, I agree. The general reminds us that we enjoy and have enjoyed relative world peace for most because of the awful sacrifices of our nations' armed forces who stood up against tyrany and saved our global society from certain destruction. The general also reminds us of the awful consequence of taking this relative world peace for granted, and the dangers of valuing military strength and weapons of war greater than the weapons of peace. Today, 12 years after this TED talk, our world is at an existential crossroads. Our brave men and women around the free world continue to serve and protect us all. We must always support them, respect them, their roles in military service, and be thankful for their dedication to protecting the peace.