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Have you ever come across text files with repeated lines and duplicate words? Maybe you regularly work with command output and want to filter those for distinct strings. When it comes to text files and the removal of redundant data in Linux, the uniq command is your best bet.

In this article, we will discuss the uniq command in-depth, along with a detailed guide on how to use the command to remove duplicate lines from a text file.

What Is the uniq Command?

The uniq command in Linux is used to display identical lines in a text file. This command can be helpful if you want to remove duplicate words or strings from a text file. Since the uniq command matches adjacent lines for finding redundant copies, it only works with sorted text files.

Luckily, you can pipe the sort command with uniq to organize the text file in a way that is compatible with the command. Apart from displaying repeated lines, the uniq command can also count the occurrence of duplicate lines in a text file.

How to Use the uniq Command

There are various options and flags that you can use with uniq. Some of them are basic and perform simple operations such as printing repeated lines, while others are for advanced users who frequently work with text files on Linux.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax of the uniq command is:

uniq option input output

…where option is the flag used to invoke specific methods of the command, input is the text file for processing, and output is the path of the file that will store the output.

The output argument is optional and can be skipped. If a user doesn’t specify the input file, uniq takes data from the standard output as the input. This allows a user to pipe uniq with other Linux commands.

Example Text File

We’ll be using the text file duplicate.txt as the input for the command.

127.0.0.1 TCP
127.0.0.1 UDP
Do catch this
DO CATCH THIS
Don't match this
Don't catch this
This is a text file.
This is a text file.
THIS IS A TEXT FILE.
Unique lines are really rare.

Note that we have already sorted this text file using the sort command. If you are working with some other text file, you can sort it using the following command:

sort filename.txt > sorted.txt

Remove Duplicate Lines

The most basic use of uniq is to remove repeated strings from the input and print unique output.

uniq duplicate.txt

Output:

Notice that the system doesn’t display the second occurrence of the line This is a text file. Also, the aforementioned command only prints the unique lines in the file and doesn’t affect the content of the original text file.

Count Repeated Lines

To output the number of repeated lines in a text file, use the -c flag with the default command.

uniq -c duplicate.txt

Output:

The system displays the count of each line that exists in the text file. You can see that the line This is a text file occurs two times in the file. By default, the uniq command is case-sensitive.

Print Only Repeated Lines

To only print duplicate lines from the text file, use the -D flag. The -D stands for Duplicate.

uniq -D duplicate.txt

The system will display output as follows.

This is a text file.
This is a text file.

Skip Fields While Checking for Duplicates

If you want to skip a certain number of fields while matching the strings, you can use the -f flag with the command. The -f stands for Field.

Consider the following text file fields.txt.

192.168.0.1 TCP
127.0.0.1 TCP
354.231.1.1 TCP
Linux FS
Windows FS
macOS FS

To skip the first field:

uniq -f 1 fields.txt

Output:

192.168.0.1 TCP
Linux FS

The aforementioned command skipped the first field (the IP addresses and OS names) and matched the second word (TCP and FS). Then, it displayed the first occurrence of each match as the output.

Ignore Characters When Comparing

Like skipping fields, you can skip characters as well. The -s flag allows you to specify the number of characters to skip while matching duplicate lines. This feature helps when the data you are working with is in the form of a list as follows:

1. First
2. Second
3. Second
4. Second
5. Third
6. Third
7. Fourth
8. Fifth

To ignore the first two characters (the list numberings) in the file list.txt:

uniq -s 2 list.txt

Output:

In the output above, the first two characters were ignored and the rest of them were matched for unique lines.

Check First N Number of Characters for Duplicates

The -w flag allows you to check only a fixed number of characters for duplicates. For example:

uniq -w 2 duplicate.txt

The aforementioned command will only match the first two characters and will print unique lines if any.

Output:

Remove Case Sensitivity

As mentioned above, uniq is case-sensitive while matching lines in a file. To ignore the character case, use the -i option with the command.

uniq -i duplicate.txt

You will see the following output.

Notice in the output above, uniq did not display the lines DO CATCH THIS and THIS IS A TEXT FILE.

Send Output to a File

To send the output of the uniq command to a file, you can use the Output Redirection (>) character as follows:

uniq -i duplicate.txt > otherfile.txt

While sending an output to a text file, the system doesn’t display the output of the command. You can check the content of the new file using the cat command.

cat otherfile.txt

You can also use other ways to send command line output to a file in Linux.

Analyzing Duplicate Data With uniq

Most of the time while managing Linux servers, you will be either working on the terminal or editing text files. Therefore, knowing how to remove redundant copies of lines in a text file can be a great asset to your Linux skill set.

Working with text files can be frustrating if you don’t know how to filter and sort text in a file. To make your work easier, Linux has several text editing commands such as sed and awk that allow you to work efficiently with text files and command-line outputs.

MUO – Feed

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When you think about the Gestapo, the Nazis, or World War II in general, one of the first things that likely comes to mind is the Luger.

Easily one of the most iconic and famous pistols of all time, the Luger was an absolute game-changer.

No other pistol of its era seems to boast the impact on modern-day firearms as the Luger.

It led to rapid advancements in the development of semi-auto pistols, changed the world of ammunition, and even led to the development of sub-machine guns.

Today, we’ll explore the lead up to its creation, what made it unique, and why it gained notoriety.

So, let’s take a look at a pistol that deserves every bit of notoriety that it holds, the German Luger.

The Man Behind the Curtain

In 1849, a child was born right on the edge of the Austrian Empire.

His name was Georg Luger.

The son of a surgeon, it might not be too much of a stretch to say that a thorough understanding of complex mechanisms and an innate ability to work with one’s hands was something of an inherited trait.

In 1867, at the age of 18, Georg Luger went on to volunteer for military service. He quickly caught the attention of command and set aside for his expert marksmanship.

The military shipped him to the Austro-Hungarian Military Firearms School at Fort Bruckneudorf, where he first gained interest in firearm design – particularly automatic loading systems.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

It wasn’t long after his stint in the military that Luger met two men who would change his life forever – Hugo Borchardt and Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher.

Had it not been for the creation of these two friends, the Luger pistol would likely never see the light of day.

Hugo Borchardt was a firearms designer who created a rather strange-looking pistol known as the C-93.

A novel and complex “toggle” action system chambered a round within the gun.

With this action came an even more interesting round — the 7.65mm x 25mm. The cartridge was specifically designed by Borchardt for use with his C-93.

At this point, Luger had worked in armament development for years with Mannlicher, specifically on rifle magazine designs.

The creation of firearms was no mystery to him.

After studying the C-93, he began to realize several changes could be made to produce a truly spectacular firearm.

The result…the Luger.

The Creation of the Luger

One of the chief changes Luger made to the C-93 was simplifying the toggle action.

He realized there were too many moving parts within it, and that simpler proves better with virtually any system.

Additionally, he found the vertical alignment of the C-93 handle a bit awkward to grip. So, he angled the Luger so that it would naturally align with the target.

The Luger also possessed a fixed barrel — a trait that led to improved accuracy compared to other pistols at that time.

The end result was a pistol that could intuitively line up with a target and then put a round through with ease even from a distance.

Georg Luger kept the 8-round magazine that fed into the handle from the C-93.

Though his creation is a primitive semi-auto design by today’s standards, the Luger had an incredibly impressive rate of fire for weapons of its time.

And it was thus, in 1898, the Luger was created.

Manufacturing of the Luger truly began two years later in 1900 when a Deutsche Waffen-und-Munitionsfabriken began production.

Because of this, the initials DWM are often found engraved on the Luger.

One would think that such an iconic German weapon would be pumped out by the truckload for German soldiers, right?

However, that’s not what happened.

Ironically, Switzerland first picked up the Luger — referred to as the Model 1900 — for military use.

To Prepare for Peace…

As the Model 1900 rose in popularity, the German military took notice.

The German Navy adopted the Model 1900 as its standard sidearm in 1904.

However, before its German adoption, the military demanded the fix of one problem — caliber size.

One of the few characteristics Luger retained from the C-93 was the 7.65x25mm round. This turned out to be a slight issue.

The German military wanted a round with more stopping power and better performance.

In response, Georg Luger removed the bottleneck shape of the 7.65x25mm round to create the infamous 9mm.

This new 9mm cartridge quickly gathered a number of names, including 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum.

Parabellum comes from an old Latin phrase, si vis pacum, para bellum, meaning, “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

Because of this moniker, the newly created Luger — Pistole 1908 – became known as the Parabellum Pistol.

That name later came to be shortened to simply the P08.

The Luger Comes to the States…Almost

While synonymous with Nazi Germany, the Luger almost became the sidearm of choice for the U.S. military.

On April 16, 1901, the U.S. Army ordered 1,000 Lugers to test for troop use.

However, after significant testing spanning several years, the military opted for the M1911 over the Luger 45 (a .45 ACP Luger variant) in 1907.

The rest, as they say, is history.

However, this brief stint stateside forever impacted the pistole. A salesman named Hans Tauscher represented the Pistole 1908 in the U.S.

His marketing efforts eventually saw the P08 adopting a new name – the Luger.

The World Wars

While German soldiers were outfitted with the Luger throughout World War I, its impact on the future development of submachine guns is where the Luger left its mark.

Trench warfare made smaller carbine-sized weapons with a high rate of fire incredibly useful for cleaning out enemy troops in trench combat.

With a few slight tweaks, the Luger adapted to this gory task.

Many Lugers during this time were modded to accept stocks for submachine gunfire.

With the addition of a 32-round drum magazine, the Luger became a truly potent weapon of trench warfare.

Though the Luger would later be replaced by advancements in submachine guns, it certainly paved the way.

Lead-Up to WWII

After World War 1, the Treaty of Versailles greatly limited what Germany was allowed to do militarily.

The German military wasn’t permitted to contain more than 100,000 troops, and restrictions existed on what types of weapons could be produced.

One of these restrictions stated pistol calibers measure less than 8mm and pistol barrel length less than 3 5/16-inches.

In response, the Germans shortened the barrel of the Luger to 3-inches, exporting the great majority of these pistols, under the Model 1923 name, to other nations.

While the Germans exported Lugers complying with the Treaty of Versailles’ restrictions, they secretly mass-produced 9mm Lugers with 4-inch barrels for their own use.

The Luger saw action throughout World War II. It impressed with its functionality and became a prize amongst Allied soldiers.

Quickly discovering the Allies would take on big risks to take home a Luger, they booby-trapped these pistols – wiring them to mines and grenades.

Post-World War 2

After V-Day, perspectives towards the Luger gradually changed.

Its association with the Nazis was unmistakable. Due to that and improvements in pistol design, the Swiss stopped issuing the Luger to its troops.

However, with the Berlin Wall upon Germany and a division into an Eastern and a Western bloc, the Luger continued to see widespread use amongst the Eastern half.

Stasi agents and the Volkspolizei used the Luger extensively throughout communist-run East Germany, the German Democratic Republic.

As further technological improvements entered the firearms market, the Luger gradually fell out of favor.

Soon, it took its place on the shelves of historical weapons.

Kinks in the Armor

The flaws with the Luger became more noticeable as time went on.

The Germans have a reputation for over-designing machinery, and the Luger was no exception to this. (Ever used a Bosch dishwasher…I rest my case.)

Due to very tight tolerances within the inside mechanics of the weapon, it didn’t take much dirt before the Luger would become clogged and unusable.

Soldiers spend the great majority of their time outside in the elements, so this was a problem.

Unlike a Nerf battle, opponents aren’t likely to listen when you call for a “timeout” during an actual war.

The Luger also proved incredibly sensitive to pressure changes. It requires high-pressure rounds to fire properly, and using anything less will result in jams.

So, while the Luger was an incredibly accurate weapon with a high rate of fire, it was very susceptible to the environment around it.

These factors combined with the complex design schematics led to difficulties in mass production during wartime.

It’s easy to see why the Luger saw a limited lifespan as a military weapon.

Official production of the Luger lasted until 1942. Though the Walther P-38 replaced the Luger well before that time in 1938.

Conclusion

The Luger truly changed the world of sidearms, making a lasting impact on the world.

Brazil, Bulgaria, Finland, Iran, Norway, Switzerland, and even Turkey used the Luger at some point within their armed forces.

It led to the widespread proliferation of 9mm pistols and 9mm submachine guns throughout the world after World War I.

So, it’s safe to say that had it not been for the Luger, you may be carrying a very different type of firearm on your person today.

Do you have thoughts on the Luger? Have you ever had the opportunity to shoot one? If so, let us know in the comments below! Ready to dive into more World War weaponry? Check out the Famous Guns of WWI and the Coolest Guns From WWII.

The post Luger Pistol: The Most Famous German 9mm appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.

Pew Pew Tactical

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He would have gotten away with it, too, were it not for those meddling kids (and the Internet… but mostly the Internet):

Not the Bee

https://theawesomer.com/photos/2021/05/how_a_bowling_pin_setter_machine_works_t.jpg

Link

We’ve previously taken a behind-the-scenes tour of a bowling alley. This video from 3D animator Jared Owen offers a more in-depth explanation of the engineering and mechanics that go into the machine that magically straightens and resets the pins between balls.

The Awesomer

In the late 1990s I learned MySQL and Java at approximately the same time. How did I teach myself? For MySQL I read the online MySQL manual cover to cover. For Java it was the Java Language Specification or Java Programming Language book, again cover to cover. Then for record I read Effective Java, and I was totally lost. I read it three or four years later and then it made sense.

At that time, with MySQL 3.22/3.23 the scope of the product was smaller, so was Java 1.2. I am confident I have forgotten as much as I retain, however it does marvel me when sometimes the most simplest of functionality I do not recall, or perhaps never learned. Today’s What Did I Learn This Week.

In MySQL, there is a TRIM() function, as the name suggests it trims whitespace, or so I thought. It actually does a lot more as the current MySQL 8.0 manual page states.

You can for example, trim the white space just LEADING, or just TRAILING, and in fact you can trim any pattern of characters, LEADING, TRAILING or BOTH. I just did not know that.

(from the man page)

mysql> SELECT TRIM('  bar   ');
        -> 'bar'
mysql> SELECT TRIM(LEADING 'x' FROM 'xxxbarxxx');
        -> 'barxxx'
mysql> SELECT TRIM(BOTH 'x' FROM 'xxxbarxxx');
        -> 'bar'
mysql> SELECT TRIM(TRAILING 'xyz' FROM 'barxxyz');
        -> 'barx'

For the record, the products are both widely used more than 20 years after I first started. MySQL has gone from 3.22 to 3.23, 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1 (the defunct 5.4 and even a 6.0 I think), 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 and now 8.0. Java was SE 1.2, then 1.3, 1.4, 5.0, 6, 7, 8 (my last major version), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and now 16, with 17 in the books.

I guess it’s never to late to re-read the manual.

Planet MySQL

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Nintendo has unveiled a new game/programming tool called Game Builder Garage. This title can teach you the basics of developing video games and guide you through the steps of creating your own Switch game.

Build Your Own Nintendo Switch Games With Game Builder Garage

Game Builder Garage is a programming educational tool aimed at people of all ages interested in making their own Nintendo Switch video games. It is not just another boring software with hard-to-understand lessons. Game Builder Garage will make learning how to build games a fun and easily-approachable process for everyone.

You don’t need to have any prior experience in the visual game programming field. Game Builder Garage will guide you through the steps of developing a game and teach you all the basics of programming needed to make a Switch game.

The whole video creation process will be handled through connecting creatures called Nodon. Here’s what Nintendo tells us about these creatures:

Nodon are creatures with big personalities that are used to help build your games from the ground up. There are dozens of Nodon in Game Builder Garage, each with a unique function, and you can learn how to build games just by connecting them in various ways. For example, you can create and move a human-like character with an analog stick just by connecting Stick Nodon with Person Nodon!

So just by moving and connecting them, you’ll be able to create almost any type of video game and share it with other users via codes. Also, according to Nintendo, you’ll be able to work on projects together with friends.

Game Builder Garage consists of two modes: Lesson Mode and Free Programming Mode. The first will offer step-by-step lessons that will teach you the basics of video programming. After you learn everything, you should switch to the other mode to apply those lessons and create a real Nintendo Switch game.

Related: Nintendo Labo Is Cardboard LEGO for Your Switch

Game Builder Garage will become available for Nintendo Switch players on June 11, 2021, and cost $29.99. If you want to be among the first ones to try out this software, you can pre-order it on Nintendo.com.

Have Fun Learning Programming With Nintendo

It looks like Nintendo is placing a bigger focus on making programming more accessible. Through the Game Builder Garage tool, anyone, whether 8 or 80 years old, can learn how to develop video games. And then actually create one and have fun doing so.

Image Credit: Nintendo

MUO – Feed

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Found on MeWe, courtesy of fellow author John van Stry (click the image for a larger view):

As Miss D. said in her comment about the image on MeWe:  "[This is] Why you never watch a war movie with soldiers, or a flying movie with pilots… unless you enjoy the commentary!"

I must admit, she has a point.  When I watch a war movie, I’m usually enraged by the nonsensical portrayal of combat troops, battles, etc. – which is why I usually won’t watch such movies at all.  Once you’ve "been there and done that", badly scripted and acted portrayals of the real thing are anything but convincing.

Peter

Bayou Renaissance Man

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[Warning: Graphic — guy getting shot]

Not the Bee

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A camera lucida is an old-school device that uses a lense and a mirror to let you trace a 3D object in front of you onto a piece of paper below you.

In 1999 artist David Hockney purchased one. After experimenting with it and a camera obscura as well, Hockney released his controversial book Secret Knowledge, where he laid out a case for how old masters–da Vinci, Caravaggio, Ingres, etc.–may have used optical devices to produce their realistic drawings. This became known as the Hockney-Falco thesis, and it’s fascinating.

Portrait of Mme. Baltrad, 1836, Ingres. Traced?

Having read Hockney’s book, in the 2010s artists Pablo Garcia & Golan Levin created, Kickstarted and began selling affordable mass-market camera lucidas to encourage people to experiment with them themselves. Their initial NeoLucida device was tiny and can still be purchased here; they’ve partnered up with Big Idea Design to keep them in production.

They even set up a Facebook group where NeoLucida users could share their work.

More recently they’ve released a larger version called the NeoLucida XL, designed to make the drawing experience a bit more comfortable.

Here’s what it looks like when you look through the device to trace a 3D object onto paper:

It’s better seen in video:

The small NeoLucida is $39, and the NeoLucida XL rings in at $75.

Core77

 

In the first part of this series, I said I’d experienced in several countries the failure of the justice system to support the rule of law, and seen how it was overturned (and in some cases replaced) by the rule of the mob.  We’re seeing precisely that in several US cities right now, so I’d like to present the "lessons learned" in other countries to see whether there are ideas we can use locally.

I’ll start with South Africa from the late 1970’s to the mid-1990’s.  This was a time of massive unrest, not unlike a rolling civil war at times.  Troubles would break out in one place, be suppressed, and then break out in another.  The issue was the white government of the country and its racially discriminatory policies known collectively as apartheid.  They included many laws that criminalized what any democracy would regard as normal and legitimate activities.  Denied any political avenue to protest, opponents of apartheid became more and more radicalized, and turned to the former Soviet Union for inspiration and support.  Increasingly isolated and paranoid, the apartheid government declared itself under a "total onslaught" from external sources, and developed a siege mentality.  Ordinary citizens, particularly black people, became so much cannon fodder for both sides.

For ordinary people like you and I, this was an extraordinarily difficult situation.  They could be living their normal lives, only to find from one day to the next that their residential area had become a battleground.  Outside forces would move in and try to force them to behave in a certain way, or support a particular movement.  If they did not, they were "sellouts" or "stooges".  The government forces would push back, demanding their support for "law and order" (the same law that classified many of them as, effectively, sub-human).  If they objected, or tried to avoid getting caught up in the struggle, they were automatically regarded as suspicious, and might be targeted by both sides.

I recall one incident for which I’ll forever feel guilty.  A labor organizer (illegal under South African law, where trades unions for black people were banned at the time) was arrested by the police.  I knew him, and donated money to his family to help them keep body and soul together while he was in detention.  Tragically, I was seen giving money to his wife;  and township informers immediately assumed that if she was getting money from a white man, it could only mean that she was a police informer.  That night a group of thugs from the local resistance dragged her out of her house, gang-raped her in front of her three children – hacking off her arms at the elbow when she resisted – then poured gasoline over an old tire, put it around her neck, and set fire to it (the dreaded "necklace").  Her horrified children were forced to watch as she burned to death.  They didn’t matter, of course – they were children of a "sell-out".  If only I’d taken greater care not to be seen giving her money, she might still be alive, and they would not have been mentally and emotionally scarred for life by seeing what they did . . . but that was Africa, and it still is in many places.  Human life is still dirt-cheap there.

Many simply "hunkered down" and tried to live through the chaos.  They had no means to resist, and were too afraid to try.  They chose to endure, and many became victims.  Those who had the courage and initiative to stand up against the violence, and try to defend themselves and others against it, took a greater risk, and some paid dearly for it;  but at least they were able to protect their families and groups of like-minded people against the chaos.  I was in the thick of those evil years, and I’ve written about some aspects of them in previous articles:

The first thing that had to be done was to ensure local law and order by keeping as many criminals as possible at a distance.  This wasn’t easy.  In such a lawless environment, many local gangsters set themselves up as warlords, dominating their areas and exacting a toll on residents to fund their criminal lifestyles.  Any resistance was met with savage reprisals.  Sadly, that meant the resistance also became more and more savage.  The Golden Rule tells us to "do to others as you want them to do to you".  If gangsters behave brutally, they must expect brutality in return – and they got it, in spades.

(One example:  A group of young thugs from the so-called Mass Democratic Movement, or MDM, mostly from the Xhosa tribe, decided to attack a meeting of the women’s auxiliary of the Inkatha Freedom Party [a Zulu political organization].  They ran in a loose gaggle up the street, surrounded the hall where the meeting was taking place, and began to force their way in.  Nothing loth, the women [who were typical Zulu "mammies", large, well-muscled and pugnacious] poured out of the hall and gave as good as they got.  I was there, and watched them literally rip fence posts out of the ground to beat up the interfering MDM youngsters.  A group of cops were standing there, watching, enjoying the spectacle [because the MDM was "the enemy" as far as they were concerned].  I asked them why they weren’t intervening to stop the violence, only to receive horrified looks at my stupidity in wanting to intervene in what was a tribal, as well as political, fight.  Several on both sides were severely injured, and a lot of blood was shed – but the MDM’s bully-boy tactics were decisively defeated, at least on that occasion.)

Resisting the gangsters didn’t mean challenging them for control.  There were usually too many of them and not enough resisters.  However, if an area could be made too expensive for them to dominate – because they lost too many people there, or had to commit an inordinate amount of resources to maintain control – they would look for easier pickings elsewhere.  Thus, the gang’s local people were targeted, and beaten up or even killed.  Any replacements met similar fates.  The gangs would try to retaliate, but if they met a united front, they would generally back off.  They had too much to lose, and too much to gain in weaker areas.

Of course, such resistance ran the risk of ending up as a new gang, also performing criminal acts.  This happened with an Islamic group, first calling itself Qibla, then forming PAGAD (People Against Gangsterism And Drugs).  The latter started off as a Muslim welfare society and mutual defense association, but rapidly degenerated into a criminal gang itself.  There were many such, in all communities in South Africa.  It took strong, determined leadership from people such as Inyati to prevent that happening, and keep the group focused on its original purpose – and such leaders were in short supply.

Resistance meant that weapons had to be obtained from somewhere, and defensive positions prepared.  The weapons were usually locally made, unless firearms could be bought, or captured from the opposition and turned against them (a frequent occurrence).  Pangas (a local term for machetes) were acquired (examples made from the leaf springs of heavy trucks were particularly prized for their superior performance);  spears (so-called assegais) were manufactured, in both throwing and stabbing varieties;  and bows and arrows were produced.  I remember one group that made three heavy-duty crossbows from truck leaf springs, including a hard-to-crank windlass to cock them, and rebar projectiles that were sharpened on a grinding wheel.  They were absolutely deadly at short to medium range, with enough power to drive a bolt right through a human body.  Knobkerries, clubs with rounded heads, were very often encountered, and the traditional Zulu isihlangu, a leaf-shaped cowhide shield mounted on a central wooden shaft, was often carried to provide some protection against similar weapons.  Finally, sjamboks – thick, heavy whips traditionally made from hippopotamus hide, but later from other materials, including plastic replicas – were not uncommon, being used by police as well.  A skillful wielder could cut flesh from bone with one of them.

Those weapons might not have been very effective against the AK-47’s and SKS’s of terrorists;  but the battlefield could be "shaped" to aid the defenders and hinder attackers.  Caltrops were a common tool for the purpose, scattered in areas that couldn’t be monitored constantly, or where thick cover like long grass or bushes prevented observation.  They could be easily made from heavy-duty wire or rebar, soldered or welded together by local blacksmiths.  Screams of pain from those impaled on them were useful warnings to pay attention to where they’d been sown.  Molotov cocktails were used to deter vehicles, or to throw at groups of attackers.  The sight of a man turned into a human torch was a very effective dissuader.  Arrows were sometimes used as a deterrent, to keep enemies at a distance.  If, despite all those measures, the enemy managed to get dangerously close, it was time for an attack against them.  A sudden charge from cover, or out of concealment in nearby houses, turned many a fight into a rout.

Of course, casualties had to be expected in such fights.  The defenders were as much at risk as the attackers, and injuries and deaths were simply something to be expected.  However, well-organized groups of defenders, who knew their local area well, had prepared it for defense, and were as well-armed as they could manage, were often able to keep the bad guys at a safe distance.  Knowing they would pay in blood if they tried to intrude, they usually chose areas that were less dangerous.

The South African police were at the time pretty much the enforcement arm of apartheid.  Many of their members were overtly racist, and they didn’t try very hard to protect black townships against this sort of internecine violence.  As far as they were concerned, if blacks turned on other blacks, it worked to their advantage, so why not just let them have at it?  That was no comfort at all to law-abiding citizens in the black townships, of course . . . which is where groups like that with which I worked came into play.  We tried to help the victims of violence, without any political motivation or overtone.  That made us enemies both of the apartheid state, which wanted to "divide and rule", and of the terrorists trying to overthrow apartheid, who wanted to rule by terror and didn’t want anyone being given any hope unless they supported the "resistance".  We lost a lot of dead and injured people in those years.

The lesson we learned was that if you offered no resistance, you would be steamrollered by the forces of violence.  They had no compunction about forcing themselves on entire communities, ruling by violence, intimidation and brutality.  They knew no other language, and would not tolerate any resistance.  One could avoid them in one place by moving to another, but sooner or later they’d turn up there as well.  The only sure defense was to organize with like-minded people to defend one’s families and neighborhoods.  It was literally "fight or die".  Communities that didn’t do that were rapidly overrun, and became victims.

Many of the lessons we learned in South Africa can be applied to the USA as well.  If you look at a Black Lives Matter or Antifa demonstration, they appear to be nothing more or less than the deliberately organized intimidation of white Americans.  The demonstrators know that the authorities are very unlikely to act against them;  rather, the authorities may target those who resist them, as we discussed yesterday.  Therefore, they’re emboldened to become even more provocative, violent and aggressive.  I don’t think that most US police forces are yet at the point where they’ll refuse to intervene to stop major violence against the suburbs, but I think that may be coming.  For example, Minneapolis police reportedly won’t come to your aid if you’re at or near George Floyd Square – they’ll demand that you come to meet them in a safer area.  What happens if you can’t?  It sounds to me as if in that case, you’re on your own.  In how many other cities is that happening?

The form which resistance takes is obviously a troubling factor.  I’m not suggesting that US citizens should become as violent as we encountered in South Africa;  but that will depend very much on how violent the rioters become.  You can’t put out a raging fire by throwing a thimbleful of water at it.  You need sufficient water, at sufficient volume and pressure, to put it out.  The scale of the threat will determine the scale of the response.  However, any major response may well lead to a politically correct justice system targeting the defenders, rather than the attackers.  This applies particularly if they’re stigmatized as "militia" or "right-wing", as seen again just last week.  Again, we discussed this yesterday, and in many of the articles linked there.  This will call for extreme discretion, wherever possible, on the part of defenders.  If they aren’t witnessed or recorded defending themselves or their neighborhood, they can’t be charged with any crime, real or politically trumped-up.

South Africa is just one example where people were forced to rely on themselves to keep the peace.  In the next article in this series, we’ll discuss more cases, from more extreme environments.

Peter

Bayou Renaissance Man