Self Defense: Violence never settles anything

Robert Heinlein's statement: 
"Those who cling to the untrue doctrine that violence never settles anything would be advised to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and of the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Nations and peoples who forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms.: 


I have been reading up on self defense lately and it seems there are quite a few people that think that violence never solves anything.  Of course, when you think about it that is not true.  This country had a war for independence.  This country also had a war to keep it as one country instead of splitting us into at least two countries.  The fact of the matter is that violence is often a bad action.  But sometimes, violence does solve the problem at hand.  


This is not to say that violence should be encouraged and certainly is not to be desired.  It is, however, a fact of life.