Through most of history, those unwilling or, more often, unable to fight to defend themselves end up dead or conquered at the hands of those who are more than willing to pick up a weapon to serve their own ends. There may be a time in history when an aggressor looked at a harmless civilization and decided it wouldn't be fair to conquer a weak and unarmed people, but examples aren't coming readily to mind.

Doesn't mean we have to like it, but that's reality. Pacifism thrives only where protected by non-pacifists. Ghandi would have had a much shorter career if he'd been dealing with a regime less civilized than the British. Same for most other career pacifists. The outspoken variety seems to be somewhat scarce except in countries like the U.S.

That Lindy missed the point by a country mile is part of the problem. Einstein fled Europe out of fear for his own life, ending up safe behind the armed might of the United States.

"Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

- usually attributed to George Orwell. Commonly quoted on many milblogging sites.