Posted on Sep 4, 2015
Is there a moral justification for killing in war?
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I've started and canceled this topic a half a dozen times, it remains heavily on my mind though along with the feeling we should talk about this heavily avoided subject. I wrestle with the right words to use, I'm not a philosopher, I prefer to deal with things that I can apply quantitative, qualifiable, objective measurements to.
So here I am the same person who was appalled at witnessing someone use their vehicle to strike something as insignificant as a deer in an attempt to kill it and moved myself into a position to protect the deer bringing up a discussion about the justification of killing the enemy.
In my personal life I try to avoid hurting others with my words, thoughts, and actions and lean heavily toward protection, but this doesn't change the fact that if facing an enemy I would do whatever is necessary to stop the enemy from his/her intent.
When an enemy immortalizes the murder of captives, kills innocents, and encourages rape and enslavement of women as a recruitment tool, it removes from it's members any cloak of morality and makes it easier for reaching the conclusion that there is a moral justification of killing in battle.
We took an oath both Enlisted and Officers we repeated these words, "I do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same." We shouldn't ever forget it.
http://soldier-ethicist.blogspot.com/2010/01/moral-justication-for-killing-in-war.html
So here I am the same person who was appalled at witnessing someone use their vehicle to strike something as insignificant as a deer in an attempt to kill it and moved myself into a position to protect the deer bringing up a discussion about the justification of killing the enemy.
In my personal life I try to avoid hurting others with my words, thoughts, and actions and lean heavily toward protection, but this doesn't change the fact that if facing an enemy I would do whatever is necessary to stop the enemy from his/her intent.
When an enemy immortalizes the murder of captives, kills innocents, and encourages rape and enslavement of women as a recruitment tool, it removes from it's members any cloak of morality and makes it easier for reaching the conclusion that there is a moral justification of killing in battle.
We took an oath both Enlisted and Officers we repeated these words, "I do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same." We shouldn't ever forget it.
http://soldier-ethicist.blogspot.com/2010/01/moral-justication-for-killing-in-war.html
Ethics
Religion
Morals
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 29
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Where to start with this one...I guess I'll start it here...as I said before war is raw, it is dirty and it is unapologetic. There is no black and white hindsight to war. War is full of grey areas that when question after the fact do not make sense but during the action is the only way to go. Is there a moral justification to killing in war? Well of course, it's the moral justification in protecting your brothers and sisters-in-arms. The justification comes from that oath mentioned. And it comes from knowing that the other side is trying to do the same to you.
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Regardless of one's personal feelings about violence, when one joins the Military there is a certain understanding that violence has to be performed in some manner. So, bearing in mind that when sent to war, it is either the enemy popping a new orifice into your skull and going home to his family or you doing said hole creation and going home to yours. Even if one is a REMF FOBBIT, there is always that possibility. And one should always be ready of that possibility. Because I will be damned if I am not going to go home to my family because I think violence is bad.
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I have chosen to be a soldier. Knowing full well what that entails. I chose this knowing what the pay scale was and what the requirements were, this is my choice. In war I use that term loosely as we haven’t been in a declared war in so long… In war, soldiers have a mission. Taking another’s life is not pleasant under any circumstance, but is part of what I signed up for. Kill or be killed… as GEN George Patton said; “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.”
I have chosen to be a soldier. Knowing full well what that entails. I chose this knowing what the pay scale was and what the requirements were, this is my choice. In war I use that term loosely as we haven’t been in a declared war in so long… In war, soldiers have a mission. Taking another’s life is not pleasant under any circumstance, but is part of what I signed up for. Kill or be killed… as GEN George Patton said; “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.”
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