That is always a good idea regardless of the occasion. The problem comes in figuring out just what the occasion is. Do you wear your body armor or do you wear your bikini? If you know in advance what the event is, your choice becomes easier, but that is not always the case! If you are going to the beach with friends and a bully shows up how do you react, and when does your reaction turn into action? Here you are in your swimsuit and the bully has motorcycle boots and brass knuckles………… do you try to talk with him (compromise) or do you punch him in the nose and be done with him. That action is going to come with a price. Maybe we should see what he is after? If his demand isn’t too bad, say he is just looking for a can of soda, you can just sacrifice a soda and the problem is solved…………. or is it? How much bad behavior is acceptable before action seems like not only the best option, but the only option? The one thing that is certain is that the bad behavior will not go away by appeasement. It just means the bully will be looking for you again tomorrow, and this time he will want your lunch too. Any action yet? But……but….. I’m in my swimsuit! I know…… lets compromise!! We can give him a soda and tell him that tomorrow we will pack an extra sandwich for him because he obviously is underprivileged and needs a friend. We can be his friend! Good deal, problem solved…… as if……..! He is not looking for a friend, he is looking to bully!! To dominate, humiliate, and exert his will even if it means taking your ice cream too. Yes, but what if he says he doesn’t want all that, he just wants to get along? Are you going to be disappointed next week when the bully says that he really didn’t mean that compromise thing, the rules have changed…. and “you are going to have to agree or I’m going to use my brass knuckles”. “Wait…….. you say……. we had a compromise!!!!!” His reply of course is, “yeah well that was then and this is now!” Do you go from compromise to action yet? You are still in your bathing suit and he still has his brass knuckles, AND he is a bad guy! If not evil he at least represents it. The point is there is no giving in to the Evil that exists even if it is disguised as only thuggery. You knew when you first encountered him that he was a bad guy, but you ignored the signs and sense that he was……. but…….. look how I’m dressed!! With EVERY bad guy that has domination plans there is only ONE thing you can count on……… THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COMPROMISING WITH HIM!!!!! JUST ELIMINATING HIM!!!!! I say him because he is a representative of evil, but by no means the sole proprietor of it. Of course I’m referring to Putin. His tentacles run very deep into our government, and why is that? He has made no secret of his intentions………ever!! He has been delayed and beaten down, but he has never wavered in his direction. Why is it that no one has taken his stated goals to heart and absolutely crushed him? After years of Putins planning and sewing seeds of cooperation with money and promises I think the Biden crime family has presented him with what he believes is his best shot. How deep does this corruption in OUR government go? “CONSPIRACY THEORISTS” people shout at anyone connecting the dots. I would hope that people would really look at what has and is going on. This is not the final goal for Putin! Whatever that goal is makes very little difference to tho people presently in his cross hairs. Just be assured he can NOT BE APPEASED, ONLY ELIMINATED!!!! PUTIN IS EVIL!!!! He doesn’t give a whit about any of the carnage he causes, even the Russians, because carnage creates fear and scared people are easier to control. (Corona virus ring a bell?) He has given ultimatums to the world. “Interfere with my assaults and I will release the most terrible consequences you have ever seen!” The danger of an ultimatum is that it may have to be acted on if one is backed into a corner, and I think he would carry out his threat. Ignore what Putin says and it wont be eliminated so it has to be fought each time and every time it raises its head. Dress appropriately and keep your powder dry. Dave of the Woods