In anyone's pursuit of justice, truth, a better life or just plain survival others will get harmed. Sometimes it is unintentional, other times it was targeted violence. Sometimes the only thing that will stop someone from harming you is you harming them back harder.
I dislike most non violence advocates, not because they hold themselves or others to a standard, but because they demand a clean slate without minding what happened before.
Of course, many make concessions for self defense, but I would argue that their concessions are structured in such a way that they only apply for when it is too late.
And for many of us, it is already too late. We might be alive, but the suffering has not stopped even if we are safer now, and for some the suffering might not stop any time soon. And there is inter generational pain, which might not stop even after we die.
Holding people to a standard while they are still getting attacked or suffering -specially because it almost always involves social structures that go way beyond our lifetime and that of our parents- often is taking sides with the oppressors. It sets limits self defense and reparations. It limits the negative consequences for abusers.
I do not care for those that wave standards before guaranteeing the well being of those harmed, and reparations for the harm already done. Good intentions and nice ideals uphold violent dynamics more often than most are willing to admit. Specially when they do not mind the history that built the situation which they seek to remedy.
I am pro revolution, and I admit that not only will it be violent, the violence will get out of hand, and will end up targeting the wrong people, as well as those that got is coming. I do not excuse it, saying the end justifies the means, or that that is a price, the lives of others, that I am willing to pay.
The way the revolution goes, is not up to me. The backlash of centuries of violence and lies will catch up to all those living. I try to understand it and prepare. But I do not kid myself thinking that I am above being one of revolutionary violence's victims. Or that if I was, I would be an innocent victim.
Me being okay with that, or anything, is irrelevant. I am irrelevant to the flow of history. And still I am taking sides and taking part in the destruction of that which oppress me and others. Even if it kills me.