THE metaphoric headline on Peter Mullen’s column, “We’re being outgunned over big lie” (HAS, Oct 12), was a rather unfortunate one. Reason tells me that truth – the opposite of lies – needs no defence and, therefore, needs no guns, metaphorically or actually.

Both the statements of Mr Blair used in the column and the comments of Mr Mullen are based on a form of victim consciousness. It is part of the “politics of overwhelm” with the aim of making people unable to react in any other way but to submit.

Victim consciousness thrives on fear, helplessness and, ultimately, hopelessness and is self-perpetuating. The way out has to be to focus on love, understanding and dialogue, all of which operate within the universal laws of balance and harmony.

By accepting individual responsibility for the world we collectively created, self-empowerment is promoted.

This is part of “seeking first the Kingdom” that leads to (gun-less) peace.

Indeed, wake-up time has come.

Ben Andriessen, Staindrop, Co Durham.