Shooting First

This article really was a moral test. The first few paragraphs describe Watzman's friend shooting an already injured assailant, but it's justified by the fact that the assailant had use of his hands and could throw a grenade if necessary. These types of situations are always the trial of right and wrong. Another example is the mother stealing food so she could feed her children. This piece emphasizes and defines the existence of the proverbial grey area when it comes to ethics. Watzman does demonstrate him point well, though. He emphasizes that the best defense is generally an offense, and uses the case of his friend to support it.

Rescue

Protection is something that is always necessary, no matter where you are. One country or leader should not have to take the position and keep everyone in line, as that creates bureaucracy and dictators; but as a general rule, countries should try to govern themselves appropriately. It's common ethics and morals to keep yourself in check. True, if a country or its leader doesn't fulfill its obligation to morals and ethics, then action should be taken. For example, the Darfur situation is appalling. People should not need to live in fear every waking and sleeping moment of their existence. Thus, someone should step-up. Recently, the US did not have any issues infiltrating and "liberating" a country in the middle east because of the oil benefits. It really speaks about the policing country and thus proves the bureaucracy idea that when one has too much power it absolutely corrupts. The US should step-up and take action solely because it's the right thing to do.

Crazy Love

This article is pretty much the story of my life. I can easily relate to this piece. It's very difficult to take that plunge and trust other people in that manner. As Pinker had mentioned humans are rational people. It's this ration and logic that makes our choices difficult. It's not so much an automatic thing, but there is a spark and I think it's how that park is used that determines how the relationship turns out. It's called the proverbial plunge because it takes a lot of courage to get over that fear, but in the end, it's worth it.

Sadistic Lambs....

In his talk about the act of mankind waging war on another as a moral issue, William Bennet discusses the reasons why war is justified. He notes that the bible preaches pacifism in its purest form, however, there are times when force is necessary. The discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas, in particular, notes the author’s intentions and motivations underlying this paper. It is obvious that the author is opposed to unjust and unfair war, whether it follows the doctrine of Jus ad Bellum.  Later in the essay, however, there is one point that sticks out in my mind more than anything. He says “To the best of my knowledge, the Lion has yet to lay down with his lamb.” He notes that even in nature war and predators are necessary and exist in its simplest form: survival. He actually preaches the art of war when necessary. I completely and wholly agree with his statement. There are inexcusable instances in which war must be waged. For example, the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. The sheer brutality, premeditation, and intentions are more than just causes for war.

As an overall note, war is not the answer. There are certain circumstances in which it must be waged. Ignorance to this fact is far worse than war. However, as an overall note, makind is the only species to wage war on itself. This phenomenon is mind-boggling to me.  Ending on the note of the lion and the lamb, there is a need to notice that the lion and the lamb have a difference in their relationship that the author does not understand. They fight for survival, where one eats and the other is sacrificed for survival. The war caused by humans is for others to view the world in their light. The Christian crusades were carried out to convert nonbelievers to Christianity, and those who refused to convert were killed. The attack on September 11 was to emphasize that the Americans are different in their religious views and the view of others in the world as inferiors and we stick our noses where they need not belong being stuck. Mankind does not kill for survival, they kill for power and reverence.