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Hopefully someone decides to defend themselves "with extreme prejudice" against some of these criminals, to make an example of them
--Val
Hi Val,
Hate to say it, especially in today's political climate, but the best self defense is to be armed to protect oneself against such assaults.I'd have to say if someone comes at you with a scissors or knife that's reason enough to at least show this criminal that you mean business.Sadly living in countries,such as South Africa,the citizens have little means to defend themselves.I know that loosing your hair in this manner isn't lethal but then there are the psychological implications one has to live with for the rest of their lives.Cheers
Mârk
Right on, Mark. As the old Norse proverb goes, "The knifeless man is a lifeless man," or if you prefer a more modern phrase, "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." I am conceptually opposed to ANY law that restricts a person's right to protect him/herself and other innocents from harm. While it's true that the loss of hair is not lethal, how is the victim to know that the person approaching him with a bladed weapon only intends to take his hair? In that case, faced with a potentially deadly weapon and uncertain of the attacker's intentions, I believe a person is justified in using lethal force for self protection. The bad guys make a choice when they wake up in the morning and decide to prey upon other people; sudden demise can be a natural consequence of that decision, and bad guys everywhere should understand that.
--Val
Very well said Val as I agree 100%.In regards to personal freedom I wouldn't
want to live in any other country that this one I reside.It saddens me as I watch
and listen to the political noise over honest citizens right to protect themselves
with arms.So true the bad guy makes a personal decision one morning to do a horrible act and its the right of the people to be able to stop him.This story about
hair mutilation in South Africa highlights how defenseless unarmed citizens are when faced with violence.So with that said hopefully our freedoms won't be taken
away by some misguided political hacks.Cheers
Mârk
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. I'd let them take the hair.
How would you know that your aggressor, armed with a bladed weapon, only means to take your hair? I would respond with deadly force.
--Val
As someone married to, and with experience of South Africa/n
This does not surprise me. In SA anything of value WILL be taken. It's a ruthless country with no place for people of the sensitive sort.
Terrible stuff. It's sad that there is even a market for this to begin with. Personally, I would not be comfortable wearing someone else's hair regardless of how it was removed. But I see plenty of girls at school growing new heads of hair overnight. One of them showed up with new dreadlocks just a few weeks ago.
I've read about a lot of people suffering hairloss after using extensions, so maybe the people buying this stuff will pay for it in the long run. It's still an awful situation. I guess this is what happens when people view hair as just another fashion accessory, and not a part of their body.
Thanks for posting this, Damon!
Absolutely horriffic story, and one that makes me real glad I live in western europe and not a less law abiding country. The thought of being mugged and a hair grown for years shaved off me with a broken glass is absolutely horrible. Hope the salons in SA take notice and stop buying the dreadlocks without proof, so that this trend dissapears soon.
While I've always admired long hair - particularly now I've grown my own - I never really thought of it as a valuable commodity that other people would want to steal. The special appeal of dreadlocks as a fashion symbol in South Africa and the appalling crime climate there have combined to produce a whole new concept: instead of the highwayman's "your money or your life", someone there could hear "your hair or your life"!
While I applaud Val's fighting attitude, I'm afraid if I had dreadlocks and was approached by a gang weilding knives, scissors and broken glass, I'd probably cave in. It must be very distressing for the victims though. One guy had been growing his locks for 10 years.
SA needs to pass a law that requires hair salons to provide proof of origin for the dreadlocks they sell.
Damon
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It'll never happen. I'll draw a parallel here, in the Civil War
group i'm in we've been fighting for years to get people not to buy
civil war markers for the value of the scrap metal. Even though
it is illegal we've never been able to stop them. And these
have GAR or other marking on them, unlike hair. But they still get stolen. Now if we can't stop it for the markers how
are you going to stop it for hair?
[Below is a GAR maker. And every GAR marker comes from the scacred ground of a cemetary.]
GAR Marker
Yeah, it was just wishful thinking. From what I've heard of the crime epidemic in SA, it would be impossible to police and they've got much bigger priorities anyway.
It's amazing that people buy those GAR markers. A sad indictment of human thoughtlessness. What on earth are they thinking?!!!
Damon
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The main reason they buy them is for the scrap metal. And even though it is a felony in some jurisdictions they do it anyways.
Now these people buy them anyways even though it clearly says
GAR or some other inscription and they know exactly where it
came from, that is was stolen from Hallowed ground, and is illegal.
A sad commentary on human nature.
Sweet buttery jesus, that is horrific!
What is wrong with people? Just grow your own hair! The people that you are (and I cannot stress this enough) MUTILATING AND ROBBING did so, and you can too!
This is like if you wanted to be tan, but instead of going outside and tanning, you skinned someone and wore them like a suit. It's horrible and disgusting, and these people deserve to be force fed the rotting, maggot-ridden carcasses of a thousand syphilitic camels!
And specifically camels like this - with dreadlocks! Love it! :)
Damon
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Simple, these people are driven by money.
This is "The Iron Code of Druss the Legend," from the work of author David Gemmell. It means a lot to me; your mileage may vary...
"Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong, and never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil. Never back away from an enemy. Either fight or surrender. It is not enough to say I will not be evil. Evil must be fought wherever it is found."
Here is another bit of writing that nicely sums up my thoughts on the DUTY of men in a society to be willing and able to fight against evil and to protect women, children, and the innocent weak. It was written by a friend and fellow martial artist, James Williams. Although it specifically addresses swordsmanship, the wisdom applies to the overall issue of justified--indeed, obligatory--violence, that is as pertinent today as it has ever been...
The Value of Owning a Sword: Moral Values and the Warrior Ethic in Modern Society (by James Williams)
I am frequently asked why I practice and teach the classical warrior skills and adhere to a philosophy that appears antiquated to many. The sword has defined the warrior for thousands of years. It has defined the power, ethics, duty, and self defense of a class of people that have shaped the face of civilization on this planet. The skill, exercise, mental development, and sheer pleasure of owning a sword is unique. Hand to hand combat with edged weapons is the most demanding of human physical combat. It not only demands the most skill, both physical and mental, it develops in the adept, abilities that separates him from others and elevates intuition, reflexes, and technique, to the highest degree. For the warrior the sword represents his honor and responsibility. The emotional tie is stronger than with other weapons and the training for its use strengthens his spirit. Jesse and I formed Bugei Trading Company because of our love for the warrior ideal and ethic. We feel that any society that loses these warrior virtues is a poorer one and will soon be a society who's freedoms are lost. The male has a prime directive to protect and defend. Every man is responsible for defending every woman and child. When the male no longer takes this role, when he no longer has the courage or feels the moral responsibility, then that society will no longer be a society where honor and virtue are esteemed. Laws and government cannot replace this personal caring and commitment. In the absence of the warrior protector, the only way that a government can protect a society is to remove the freedom of the people. And the sons and daughters of lions become sheep."
I think the photo above, from the movie, "The Patriot," very nicely captures the warrior essence referred to by James.
As a practioner of the art of the sword, I cannot agree more. I have seen that my country is heading towards the banning of modern weaponry, and since I do not like guns in the first place, I have taken up the sword to defend my home, my family, and my person. I believe that simple "eye for an eye" is not enough for physical violence, that you must respond swifter, louder, and harsher than your opponent if you want to end with minimal bloodshed. Anyone foolish enough to try and mug me would find themselves staring at the pointy end of three feet of red steel.
"If they pull a knife, you pull a sword. If they send one of yours to the hairdresser, you send one of theirs to the hospital. THAT'S the Septet way!"
Very well said, Val.
I've read some of Mr. Gemmell's work, enjoyed it quite a bit.
Frodo
Hi Damon,
The only thing I can say is that this is terribly unfortunate. Incidentally, I often think of the many atrocities committed against the people in Africa when I work with my African stamp albums. I am a passionate collector of African stamps. May these thieves get their just due!
Ted
