At 12:24 AM 5/26/01 -0700 Christopher Gwyn wrote:
>> and the bravery with which those men and women accepted the high
>> risk of death for the greater good is most definitely worthy of our
>> commendation.
> in my opinion that depends on, among other things, whether the brave
>really are serving the greater good.
> my impression is that a lot of the Nazi SS were both brave and quite
>sincere in believing that they were serving the greater good - but it
>would take some very very careful phrasing to get me to commend their
>'bravery'. similarly, if brave people are risking their lives in an
>activity which will not advance the greater good i would be cautious
>about commending their bravery - even if i agree with them about what
>the common good is.
> i would rather recognize people for exactly what they did achieve
>and mourn their loss for the loss that it is than assign to them
>false glories and mythological status. i find it more respectful, and
>their lives more inspiring.
But I think that this case meets your determinations. Clealry the men and
women who fought in America's wars, both draftees and conscripts, were
fighting for the greater good. Thus, these people willingly accepted far
greater risks to their right to life than most any of us here have ever had
to contemplate. Thus, by your own standards above, those men and women are
worthy of exactly the commendation that I gave them.
JDG
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"The point of living in a Republic after all, is that we do not live by
majority rule. We live by laws and a variety of institutions designed
to check each other." -Andrew Sullivan 01/29/01
