Authority Quote by Manlio Argueta
““Guadalupe Fuentes: --They're not paid to kill honest people, to shoot for no good reasons. Rubenia Fuentes: --Ah, my little girl, then why do you think they give them those big guns that look like tree branches and are larger than they themselves? To shoot, baby, to shoot. Because if they don't, that gives rise to talk that the authorities are useless, are nothing more than decoration.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Commentary on armed conflict, 1990s
Violence is justified by authorities through powerful weapons, while the populace sees it as unnecessary.
In simple terms: Authorities use big weapons to justify violence, while people see it as needless.
Question the motives behind militarized force.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- military occupation
- public protest
- media reporting
- policy debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do governments use force?
- How can civilians influence policy?
The quote may oversimplify complex geopolitical motives.