They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means “The Ultimate Argument of Kings,” and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. “We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it’s about: You’ll do as I say or I’ll send my goons to kill you.”
I thought about that for a long time. If there’s an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I’ve got bullets – he’s got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that’s not going to happen. So if there’s an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain’t bullets.
It finally came to me – and that’s when I abandoned the city and most of my stuff, and gave all that was behind me a good stiff Randian Shrug.
The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.
Jeez – I spent my formative teenage years on those beaches. They’ve sure gone to hell.
I just commented on this on my facebook…yes, I have and no, I don’t care. In consideration of the fact that my immediate and invariable answer to any random ass asking if I am carrying is to be….”NO” no matter what my actual and usual state of armed, this kid would be in for a HUGE surprise.
I’d probably go with “why do you want to know?”
No I don’t have a Glock would be my answer. I do however have either an S&W or a Colt. Surprise!
“Need to know basis, friend. And friends don’t need to know.”
“I don’t know, why don’t you try to punch me and find out?”