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[thenaturegirl]

I think that this semester will be awesome. Symbolic logic will be, well, symbolic logic...and who knows what HIS 109 will be like, but color theory should be very fun and relaxing. Evolution and Ethics--I'm pretty sure--will be the best class I've ever taken! I'm soooooo excited about it

Comments

[thenaturegirl]

No kidding. As irritating as that is, though, it's completely understandable. If you're overseas, risking your life, watching your friends die, killing other people, etc., you DAMN well better believe you're fighting for something worthwhile. Otherwise...

[pstscrpt]

In order to be in the military, you must (to some degree) value your country/your lifestyle/your community/whatever over human life.

Ideally, the military should be used as a deterrent to other countries starting military actions, so the effect would be to preserve life. In general, I'm a believer in the conserative Peace Through Strength ideal. It doesn't work when we have some jackass in charge picking fights, though. Especially when that leaves us too stretched out to do anything about genocides.

[thenaturegirl]

Ideally, the military should be used as a deterrent to other countries starting military actions, so the effect would be to preserve life.

That's a good point, but it still takes for granted that the individuals in the armed service would be willing to attack other humans (like any good guard dog) as soon as their superior tells them to.

[pstscrpt]

It does depend on what they actually do. When I was looking when I was 18, I was only considering the navy, and then only nuclear propulsion. I figured I might be willing to die for my country (not anymore, but this was 12 years ago), but I wasn't willing to kill for it.

[pstscrpt]

I think it's obeying orders to kill, no matter what you think of them, that's a problem. While I understand the necessity of it, I find it just as distasteful as Lauren does.

[thenaturegirl]

Oh, I don't doubt that he'd easily find a girl who would appreciate his military experience...And I'm just as sure that people like him wouldn't put up with people like me either!

As an aside, why is it wrong to value your community (a group of people) over the life of someone who is trying to dystroy\harm said community?

Personally, I don't think that it can ever be "right" (let alone "admirable") to take the life of a sentient being. If someone is LITERALLY attacking your community, it *might* be morally permissible to kill in self defense...but really, there is usually a plethora of better ways to deal with such an instance that should be explored BEFORE sending troops out to fight.