Among the people most likely to read this book––the so-called elites like me who have the leisure time to dabble in this thing called new media––I am a dinosaur in many ways. Among the most pronounced is my attitude toward my children and fighting, which is backwards, redneck, Neanderthal, whatever you want to call it. Here's why:

I believe that my sons ought to be able to protect themselves, and I emphasize that they have the right to do so when they or their loved ones are being attacked or threatened.

Don't blame this on my boxer father, though he certainly taught me this same thing as a boy. Blame it on me, because decided to pass it on instead of letting it go. Call me a hypocrite if you must, and decry me as a sham for believing I'm a man of peace despite the fact that I (seemingly) openly advocate violence. 

I do believe in peace, and I desire a world free of conflict as much as any of you. But that world doesn't exist, and when violence impinges upon my kids I want them to be able to do something else in response than run away or cower or wait for somebody else to help them.  

I want them to be able to throw a punch if they need to, and I am usually their practice punching bag. I work on this with them––I make sure they can make a proper fist and know the difference between a hook and an uppercut. I make it absolutely clear that they are not to use these punches casually, but only in the service of protection. So far it has worked. There has only been one bloody nose on the playground so far, and the other kid deserved it. Am I proud of this? No. Will it happen again with this particular kid? Doubtful. Will I continue to teach my sons how to defend themselves? Yes.

So this puts me in a seeming conundrum, doesn't it? On one hand, I want to teach my children the way of peace. On the other, I want them to be able to take down anybody who screws with them. But to me, this isn't a conundrum at all. It's like having a fire extinguisher in your house: you keep it there and pray you never have to use it (or hope you never have to use it, if you're not the praying kind).