[snowrip]

This country is founded upon the struggle of ideas. Make your best argument and gather like-minded people who will vote in your favor. That’s how we win.

This country was founded upon the downtrodden using lethal force to throw off the yoke of tyranny. It is only when there is freedom from tyranny that the arena of ideas can exist in the first place.

Don't ever forget how many have died, bloodily, to establish and protect that freedom.

[worst-case scenario]

This nation was founded at a Constitutional Convention. It was the scene of debate and discussion of the most fervent type. There was no gunfire involved - it was people talking, listening, arguing, and carrying their points through persuasion.

And it created a Constitution, and a nation, which uses a representative democratic republic to achieve its ends. I value that process just as much, if not more, than turning to violence to solve problems.