Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Arachnophobia and Other Weaknesses

Strength as a martial capacity becomes harder to conceal as it grows.  As such, those dedicated to the martial way are immediately apparent to the weak.  This can prove to be a great liability for the martial artist who walks among schneevies lacking sufficient strength or discipline to seek the martial way.

Such individuals will regard the martial artist as something fearful, as they fear retribution for their weak, harmful actions toward others and do not trust themselves to act honorably enough to avoid painful justice at the hands of a warrior.  They will see the martial artist, standing peacefully, and respond to them as though they were a great spider sitting in a web.

Just as even the largest spider is only harmful to those who stray into its web, the martial artist is no threat to those of good intent.  And just as the schneevie will fearfully swat a large spider on sight, or enlist a stronger friend to help in the effort, they will also attempt to undermine a person of great strength simply out of fear.  Merely by existing in the presence of weak people, a martial artist therefore invites unjustifiable attack.  This explains why the greatest warriors walk alone.

The next time the reader spies a gigantic spider peacefully hunting in its web, they would do well to consider whether it deserves to die merely because it has the POTENTIAL for harm.  There is greater strength in respecting the boundaries of the web or compelling the spider to relocate out of one's own territory than in taking a life to ease one's fears.  This simple act of respect serves as a fable for proper martial conduct in the presence of a fearsome person who means no harm.

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