Hi Billy,
On Apr 9, 2009, at 11:31 AM, [email protected] wrote:
The Marines, as I understand them, simply do not train with language
like
"love your enemies and always show them you care about their
immortal soul."
Actually, I believe the motto is "semper fidelis" -- always faithful.
So yes, they value "faith" more than "love", but hate still isn't in
the equation.
Rather, the rubric is "kill, kill, kill."
In fact, the Marine Corps rubric is more like "Fight, Fight, Fight"
than "kill, kill, kill" -- and it is an important distinction.
http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_slogans.htm
In other words, if one fights, then is there any substitute for
fighting to win ? If fighting to win is a Good Value, then
consciousness
of some sort of love imperative while in the midst of combat can well
become self defeating. And disable defense of those you love.
Again, I think we're working from a different definition of love. By
"love" I don't mean emotional sentimentality, which I totally agree is
often a pointless distraction.
When I say "love" I mean 'agape', in the contractual sense, of seeking
to do what is best. If my enemy is supporting something evil, the
best I can do for him is neutralize his ability to work that evil,
even if it means killing him.
But I don't hate him, although I may hate what he stands for. And if I
can stop his evil without killing him, so much the better. And once I
capture or neutralize him, I would tend his wounds and seek to treat
him with as much dignity as is possible.
That is, my interpretation of the "heart ". of Christian faith is
congruent
with Buddhist values. Love -compassion-- is still essential.
But objectivity is central.to everything else.
From my perspective, as in I John, "God is love", and thus it is
impossible to be truly objective without loving rightly.
That is actually my biggest criticism with your focus on hate: I think
it is a epistemic vice, that keeps you from judging objectively.
-- Ernie P.
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