Originally posted by midnight Target
I'm sorry you feel that way Miko.
...
How sad.
Your examples are not applicable to my case. You perceive that we are in argument but we really are not - at least not in this case. There is no symmetry in doing an (arguably) selfish act on a spur of the moment (and being capable of such act in the first place) and in declaring a readiness to do a selfish act in advance.
I am very respectfull of any man who served well - especialy if he volunteered.
I would be gratefull and respectfull to Tumor if he did sacrifice his life for a worthy cause.
But since he is alive and well I consider it fullish on his part to declare his willingness to sacrifice even though people do not appreciate it. From his post it is obvious that he consideres his sacrifice to be done for those people - otherwise he would not care of their calling him nimrod.
There is such thing as moral responcibility for supposedly good deeds. Any insurance company knows that by insuring you against a risk it actually makes you more likely to undertake risks - hence the necessary deductible. IMF does not refuse to forgive loans to the poor countries out of greed but because of doing otherwise would create expectations that you can borrow money for crazy schemes and also expect to be absolved from responcibility. Any parent knows that making life easy for a child is only spoiling him.
People on flight 93 did not have a chance to survive if they had abstained from action but had a slight chance to survive if they had managed to subdue four men armed with the boxcutters and then managed to keep the plane aloft. Their act was brave (as it apparently takes bravery in modern society to act to save your live while most people would meekly go towards sure death) and beneficial to us all.
At the same time for a person who has a choice (parachute and an ejector seat) it would be stupid to say in advance - "don't worry, when your stupid international involvements and lousy airline security endangers lifes of politicians most directly responcible (allegedely the plane was aiming for Washington)", I will not use my chance to jump out but will kill myself saving your sorry asses.
Flight 93 is the purest example of heroism being a reverse side of somebody's screwup. It's nice to have had that heroism but only an idiot would wish for more of it or rely on more of it saving us in the future.
Also, simple math will tell you that people who do selfless acts of heroism tend not to procreate as well as the cowards do. That is why they should supress their desire for sacrifice or at least not to let cowards know that there is heroism forthcoming. Then there is a greater chance that it will not be needed. How many people right now would be appealing for invasion into Iraq if they though "s#$t, I can get drafted..."?
I conversed with many soldiers in this country and others. Been a soldier myself. If you think that many of them do it out of love for the comfort-spoiled civilians who do not appreciate them, you are very mistaken. There are plenty of attractive sides - some real and some, granted, deceptive in military service and other "heroic" services like police, firefighting, etc. Some of them even include the "fame" and "mistique" associated with perceived risk (greatly overstated by the media and movies) that serve as great babe magnets. Many are real and deeply personal. Most of them cannot ever be comprehended by non-warrior type people. Desire to sacrifice for unappreciative strangers is way down on the list.
Any soldier who is still idealistic and is serving our of desire to sacrifice for his country is undoubtedly an ignorant dolt who missed his history lessons and does not know how the country stabbed the army in the back while it was fighting the spread of communism in Vietnam and then spit on returning veterans. I have no reason to believe it is any better today.
miko
