If This One Act Would Stop The War Would You Do It?

If, then yes. But that's the big question, if. How would you know until after the fact that it would do anything? And which war is it? War in afghanistan it might end, such as it is. But war on terror? That won't be ending so long as people are free to disagree with each other. Well the terror part won't, we might decide to stop treating it as a war. Then again, if bin laden was in a position to be killed, why aren't the us soldier types doing the killing (or taking prisoner)? But back to the question you asked: If I knew, without question, that killing one person would end the war, then yes, I'd kill them. Not that that'll ever happen, is a nice idea on paper, but in practice I don't see it making much difference.

Reply By: Danny BassettePosted: Sunday, April 16, 2006If, then yes. But that's the big question, if. How would you know until after the fact that it would do anything? And which war is it? War in afghanistan it might end, such as it is. But war on terror? That won't be ending so long as people are free to disagree with each other. Well the terror part won't, we might decide to stop treating it as a war. Then again, if bin laden was in a position to be killed, why aren't the us soldier types doing the killing (or taking prisoner)? But back to the question you asked: If I knew, without question, that killing one person would end the war, then yes, I'd kill them. Not that that'll ever happen, is a nice idea on paper, but in practice I don't see it making much difference.

well hi there danny, of course it's just a thought on ethics, the reality could never happen.

But still it's nice to see you again.

Yes.   The sacrifice of one (him, and a part of me too) would be more than worth it.  Whilst I balk at killing even the fish that I catch (have to get someone else to do it) I'm pretty certain that I could slit that mofo's throat.  All I'd have to do is re-run a timeline of the events of 9/11 in my head - part of which included my little boy looking at me with tears in his eyes and saying "nobody's ever going to be happy on my birthday ever again, momma".

Yeah, I could do it.

 

Reply By: dharmagrlPosted: Sunday, April 16, 2006Yes. The sacrifice of one (him, and a part of me too) would be more than worth it. Whilst I balk at killing even the fish that I catch (have to get someone else to do it) I'm pretty certain that I could slit that mofo's throat. All I'd have to do is re-run a timeline of the events of 9/11 in my head - part of which included my little boy looking at me with tears in his eyes and saying "nobody's ever going to be happy on my birthday ever again, momma".Yeah, I could do it.

a real answer! with no hedging, or obscuring.

No. It's almost impossible to get blood out of the carpet.

More seriously, probably not. There's a visceral aspect to killing a living person that I don't think I could deal with - the sound, the smell, the guilt - I'd rather not thanks.

Of course there's practically no imaginable circumstances in which the death of any number of people would bring an end to war as a part of the human condition. We gain more through fighting our battles and understanding their causes than through seeking out magical solutions.

More seriously, probably not. There's a visceral aspect to killing a living person that I don't think I could deal with - the sound, the smell, the guilt - I'd rather not thanks.

I can totally agree with Cacto here, but hope that I could do it.  Unlike an earlier ethical question, the death of Bin Laden would lead to saving lives.  While murder is wrong, protecting the innocent, even if that means the taking of a life, is not wrong.

Lets turn it around, Modman. If cutting BUSH's throat (with no legal consequences) would end the war, would YOU do it?

How about your wife's throat?

If killing is wrong, it's wrong. Right? You're against the death penalty, arent you? Even when the condemned is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?

Or are you only against the death penalty when it's someone YOU have doubts about?

Answer your own question about Osama, and then answer mine.

Reply By: a question(Anonymous User)Posted: Monday, April 17, 2006Lets turn it around, Modman. If cutting BUSH's throat (with no legal consequences) would end the war, would YOU do it?How about your wife's throat?If killing is wrong, it's wrong. Right? You're against the death penalty, arent you? Even when the condemned is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?Or are you only against the death penalty when it's someone YOU have doubts about?Answer your own question about Osama, and then answer mine.

not colleen throat, but if it would totally end all war I think I could get it up enough to slit anyones throat.

I miss you btw

as for the death penality, I am against it because I know in my heart of hearts at least one INNOCENT man was put to death.

Ethically, we could look at the theory of the greater good.

Reply By: DynosoarPosted: Monday, April 17, 2006Ethically, we could look at the theory of the greater good.

and that's all this silly little article is about, to provoke thought, to see how moral and ethical you or I might be.

Reply By: cactoblastaPosted: Monday, April 17, 2006No. It's almost impossible to get blood out of the carpet.

use natures miricle, {american product} it gets everything from blood, to hairballs to an animals accidents.

If this is what I had to do to save my life, my kids or others, and nothing else, yes I would.

However I would prefer he be alive and live to experience what it would be like to be locked up for the rest of his life and never to get out and without any kind of amenities just so that he could experience the evil he put out there in our world. Killing him is too decent, having him suffer is better. Torture of the mind is better than an easy death, he needs to experience other people's pain.

Reply By: foreverserenityPosted: Monday, April 17, 2006If this is what I had to do to save my life, my kids or others, and nothing else, yes I would. However I would prefer he be alive and live to experience what it would be like to be locked up for the rest of his life and never to get out and without any kind of amenities just so that he could experience the evil he put out there in our world. Killing him is too decent, having him suffer is better. Torture of the mind is better than an easy death, he needs to experience other people's pain.

I personally would like to pound nails in his head. so says a feeling particularly blood thirsty MM.

I couldn't do it, mod. It's a tough, tough question, but I couldn't do it.

See, I have a very sacred respect for human life. While I respect all life, I must note that, biblically speaking, humans were the only created beings that God did not simply SPEAK into existence, and that Adam bore the very BREATH of God. As much as I would like to be able to say that I could do it, the simple fact is, I could not unless I or my family stood in IMMINENT threat of danger.

Reply By: Gideon MacLeishPosted: Monday, April 17, 2006I couldn't do it, mod. It's a tough, tough question, but I couldn't do it.

glad you answered from your heart with no rhetoric.

I don't honestly know.

I don't think I could do it in such a clinical fashion. If I were in the field looking for him, came across him, and we struggled, then yeah. But I would never do it behind a mask.

If I ever kill someone I want to see their eyes, and I want them to see mine.

A mask doesn't hide anything but your shame imo.

Slit his throat? probably not, i wouldnt want to touch him! I'd rather shoot the bastard

#17 by Tova7 Tuesday, April 18, 2006

don't honestly know. I don't think I could do it in such a clinical fashion. If I were in the field looking for him, came across him, and we struggled, then yeah. But I would never do it behind a mask. If I ever kill someone I want to see their eyes, and I want them to see mine. A mask doesn't hide anything but your shame imo.

I was trying to make this as safe as possible so I could get answers based on ethics and morals.

#18 by island_gurl12 Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Slit his throat? probably not, i wouldnt want to touch him! I'd rather shoot the bastard

to quick and not personal enough for me,

I often ask myself if I could kill, but when you get right down to it......I think I would have a problem with the memory of the killing etched in my mind forever. Then guilt and morality would set in. I have never hated someone that much in order to take their life from them.
I think I would be afraid of myself!

I think I rationalized the the full extent of taking someone's life....even Osama's! As much asI hate what he has done, I am no better than he is if I were to take his. Yes he is responsible for killing thousands of people, but just think, .......imagine the guilt of taking one life compared to the thousands of lives that he has to answer for. Death is so final and complete. To end someone's life at the sake of my hands I couldn't do it.

Reply By: cmortonPosted: Wednesday, April 19, 2006I often ask myself if I could kill, but when you get right down to it......I think I would have a problem with the memory of the killing etched in my mind forever. Then guilt and morality would set in. I have never hated someone that much in order to take their life from them.I think I would be afraid of myself!I think I rationalized the the full extent of taking someone's life....even Osama's! As much asI hate what he has done, I am no better than he is if I were to take his. Yes he is responsible for killing thousands of people, but just think, .......imagine the guilt of taking one life compared to the thousands of lives that he has to answer for. Death is so final and complete. To end someone's life at the sake of my hands I couldn't do it.

another heart felt answer! good for you.

You sound so tough moderateman, could you really just cut someones throat and if so, the police need to be watching you as you are a time bomb ready to explode.

If Osama was to stand trial, be convicted, be sentenced to death by a court of law, if I was then asked to do the part of the executioner then yes I could perfom the act of killing.

What you talk of is murder which never solves anything.

#24 by sushiK Wednesday, April 19, 2006

If Osama was to stand trial, be convicted, be sentenced to death by a court of law, if I was then asked to do the part of the executioner then yes I could perform the act of killing. What you talk of is murder which never solves anything.

hence this being in the ethics part of philosophy