Collateral damage

[stuartcr]

Military people do what they are told, whether they agree or not, don't they?

[PaulSacramento]

Military people do what they are told, whether they agree or not, don't they?

Nope, most military code of conduct allows for a soldier to NOT obey an order that he/she believes to be illegal or immoral.

[stuartcr]

Yes, but the results of refusing an order in wartime, can be death or a conviction of treason or cowardice..

[PaulSacramento]

Yes, but the results of refusing an order in wartime, can be death or a conviction of treason or cowardice..

No, they will lead to a hearing, BUT if the refusal is JUST, then...

Fact is that "obey order" is no longer a valid excuse for a soldier to commit an act he/she knows to be wrong and CAN and HAS gotten then in MORE trouble than refusing it.

[stuartcr]

I guess things that are right or wrong change with time.

[PaulSacramento]

I guess things that are right or wrong change with time.

Man's PERCEPTION of right and wrong, changes with time.
SOME rights and wrongs of course, others are universal through out the ages.
You won't find any culture that is ok with people making THEM suffer in some way or another.
You won't find any culture that is ok with another coming in and taking what is theirs ( although they may be ok with doing that to others, LOL).
You won't find any culture that is ok with being killed over land ( though they may be ok with killing others over land).
Know what I mean?

[stuartcr]

Yes, assuming there really are universal rights and wrongs.

I've always been fascinated by the concept of a 'just' war.

Thanx

[PaulSacramento]

Yes, assuming there really are universal rights and wrongs.

I've always been fascinated by the concept of a 'just' war.

Thanx

The moment one believes in "right and wrong" then there must be some sort of absolute to based that on.

A "just" war is one in which one party has no other choice than to fight back if they wish their way of life to survive.

[stuartcr]

Yes, the individuals' absolute. I do not believe in universal absolutes.

Which side do you think was just in the European religious wars, or our civil war?

[PaulSacramento]

Yes, the individuals' absolute. I do not believe in universal absolutes.

Which side do you think was just in the European religious wars, or our civil war?

Sure you do believe in universal absolutes, you just stated as much.

[stuartcr]

If you mean the universal absolute that there are no universal absolutes, then yeah, I guess that's the only one...my bad.

[RickD]

Stuart,

Can you tell me of any time it's not wrong to rape children?

Is it ever ok to torture puppies?

[PaulSacramento]

If you mean the universal absolute that there are no universal absolutes, then yeah, I guess that's the only one...my bad.

Not the only one BUT the most obvious one.

I am sure you can think of a few "wrong" absolutes, anyone can.

[stuartcr]

Stuart,

Can you tell me of any time it's not wrong to rape children?

Is it ever ok to torture puppies?

I personally do not know of any instances.