A fleeting incident remarked by Professor William A. Jacobson, creator of Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion, and commented by many illustrates an ontological reality and a moral fact expressed in the tactical wisdom of St. Paul in the words of Romans 12:18-21.

From the comments:

It appears to this observer that most comments here run counter to the posture commended by Professor Jacobson. As I see it, our host is echoing, by concretizing, a well-known phrase in a well-known book, regarding the ownership of vengeance or revenge. I concur with Professor Jacobson’s point here.

We do not own and should not take vengeance for two reasons, one ontological, one moral. First, we do not know enough of any situation to be able fully to assess or make disposition regarding it. Personal and judicial judgements are inherently partial and dangerous, even though required of us. Second, vengeance is action against a defeated or defenseless adversary. An easy hit, a seeming emotional catharsis that actually spreads opacity, heat and alarm – that is to say, despair and damage – omni-directionally. Vengeance, for us, is a punch down which, Professor Jacobson points out, in every way harms our own interests, large and small.

We do not own revenge and should not employ it. We may experience a desire to make it happen, or be happy with an appearance of its happening. So to feel is human. To sublimate that feeling into calm and quiet is divine.

AMDG