26/05/2026
People are often too quick to judge whenever they hear the words “self-defense.” The moment an injury occurs, society immediately looks for someone to blame, and most times, the person who survived the attack becomes the villain of the story. But real life is not always black and white.
A young man had just closed from work after a long and stressful day. Like every other ordinary person trying to survive, all he wanted was to get home peacefully, eat, rest, and prepare for another day. The streets were already getting dark, and he hurried his steps, hoping to avoid trouble.
On his way home, he noticed a group of young men staring at him from a distance. At first, he ignored them. Then one of them called him over aggressively and accused him of insulting their friend earlier in the day. Confused, he tried explaining that they had mistaken him for someone else. But anger had already taken over the atmosphere.
Before he could say another word, one of them shoved him violently. Another slapped him across the face. The insults became louder. Threats followed immediately.
At that point, he still tried to avoid violence. He stepped back. He pleaded with them to let him go. He even apologized for something he knew nothing about, simply because he wanted peace more than pride.
But the situation became worse.
One of the boys picked up a broken bottle. Another moved behind him as if to stop him from escaping. Fear instantly replaced confusion. In that moment, he realized this was no longer an argument. His safety was genuinely at risk.
Human beings naturally react when faced with danger. Survival instinct is real. Nobody stands calmly while being attacked and waits to become a victim.
In the struggle that followed, he defended himself the only way he could. He pushed one away, blocked blows, and fought desperately to escape. During the chaos, one of the attackers fell and sustained injuries.
The next morning, the story spread around the neighborhood, but not the complete truth. People only heard that he “injured someone in a fight.” Suddenly, he became the violent one. Fingers pointed at him. Rumors circulated. Many condemned him without asking a single question.
Nobody talked about the fear he felt while being surrounded.Nobody mentioned that he tried to walk away.Nobody cared that he begged for peace before the attack escalated.Nobody asked why he should have waited until he was seriously injured before protecting himself.
This is the unfortunate reality many people face.
Self-defense is one of the most misunderstood concepts in society. Many people wrongly believe that a victim must remain passive until irreversible harm occurs. But the law does not always expect a person to surrender their safety in the face of unlawful violence.
The principle of self-defense exists because every human life has value. A person who is attacked unlawfully has the right to use reasonable force to protect themselves from imminent danger. The keyword is “reasonable.” The law usually examines the surrounding circumstances:Was there an actual threat?Was the fear genuine?Did the person attempt to escape?Was the response proportionate to the danger faced?
These questions matter because reality happens fast. Fear does not wait for legal analysis. In dangerous moments, people react instinctively to survive.
Sadly, public opinion often ignores these realities. Society sometimes sympathizes more with visible injuries than with invisible fear and trauma. Yet many people carrying accusations today are individuals who merely fought to stay alive.
Not every person who throws a punch started the violence.Not every injured person is the innocent one.And not every survivor should be treated like a criminal.
Sometimes, the loudest accusations hide the true victim.
Self-defense is not revenge.Self-defense is not wickedness.Self-defense is the natural human response to unlawful danger.
Before judging any situation, always remember:There are always two sides to every story.
