[Amnell]

Originally Posted by Tenchu

Yes, I can just see it now, a Samurai takeing up his sword and cutting the heads from childrens bodies because there is "no other option". I do not htink you know what honor is. My original point is you think it is okay to kill children as long as you are happy with the outcome it makes. You have admited that, I have stated this is the cause for my hatred of the modern world and America is at the front of this world. I think it is you who needs to take a step back and consider which of the two of us will be viewed as the lesser man, the one who dies trying to fight a war he cant win because he will not compromise his integrity nor his moral courage, or the one who returns home with their body and clothes stained with the blood of women and children. You feel detached because it is nuclear bombs, I think. But I can assure you, a knife strike is much less painless. I have been both gassed and cut. I do not think you even realize the reality of your words. However, I dont give that liberty to the soldiers I have met on the grounds of your countries wars who are comiting these crimes.

Originally Posted by Tenchu

You should heed MMMs words. You've made real progeress. I will never step back from killing kids though.

First, that's a lot of post you left unanswered. And you still haven't answered my other question.

You think it didn't happen? Do you think that a band of samurai would be afraid to kill a group of children to avert another war later on down the road? In that case, it's not even about honour, it's about survival.

I think I already gave the "last time", but since you're still not listening, I'll say this one more time: killing children, on a sword or in a nuclear blast, is evil. It is never "acceptable". It is never condonable. No one is ever happy about it. No one ever wants to do it. It is evil.

Look at it like this: You are given a gun and there is a nine year old placed in front of you. To your left is a man seated in front of a console with his thumb on the "Launch" button. From you right, another man delivers an ultimatum: Shoot this child in the head, or fifteen nuclear missiles will be launched against Japan. Fifteen nuclear weapons is more than enough to blanket Japan and wipe out ever living thing in that chain islands. By the way, all children from the country have already been removed.

Only an insane person would pick the child's life in that case. They would be condemning millions for one life.

It was much the same in World War 2.

If you would have picked the child, I'm out of this discussion because it's proof to me that you are insane and not worth the energy it takes to type.

I don't need to take a step back and "re-evaluate". Here's why: I'm constantly evaluating. I base my opinions off of what data I can gather, not off of emotional impulses and grudges.

I'm not concerned with "who's the better man." I'm concerned with your apparent lack of consideration, deep thought, and logic. Besides, I'd never be able to convince myself that I'm the "better man", let alone someone else, and especially not you.

It sounds like you'd rather be a martyr than a useful asset. To quote a song title, "The only difference between suicide and martyrdom is press coverage." If it ever came down to me having to fight for my way of life, whoever--anyone--who stood against me would be a target. It's called full-commitment. When it comes to war, you can't hold back or compromise. That's how Germany managed to take over half of europe before England even mobilized their forces. Pick the lesser of evils when you can, then proceed with all due haste. You say you've been gassed and cut (I assume on the battlefield), but I doubt you've ever looked at the big picture. You were just a grunt, no?

I feel detached because it happened two generations ago. And, truthfully, I don't even feel very detached. When I read more detailed accounts of what happened to the people in those cities or the Jews in Europe, it fuckin' hurts. I saw a video of an American tank crew trashing the car of an Iraqi taxi driver. They shot it to shit then crushed it with their tank for stealing some timber. That car was the guy's livelihood. I was pissed! A lot of people don't care because it doesn't affect their daily lives. A lot of people do care for various reasons--they have family in Iraq, they have a lot of sympathy, whatever.

MMM may be right. Perhaps it was a significant concession on your part. I still ain't happy. MMM was also right that you're seeing everything through a filter. You're refusing to see reality. That's why I'm still in this discussion.

Originally Posted by Tenchu

Men should determine before they step out the door just exactley where they stand on every issue ...

If everyone did that, wars would start far more frequently and be much more bloody. Sometimes you can't take a stand on an issue because you don't know enough. This is why I haven't decided to support any candidates for president here in the states yet. I don't know much about any of them. Hence, I am unresolved for the moment. I am not confused, though. I simply don't have enough information--which is also your case, it seems.

="Tenchu"]But I think it is a weak man who has not the stomach to stand up even against God if he must ...

It is a smart man who picks his battles. I kind of agree with you--if another country (or even my own) decided to try to take over my life, I wouldn't be afraid to fight back. But I wouldn't go and storm a fortified position on my own--that's just stupid. Rather, it'd be smarter to wait for the enemy to come out to where he is vulnerable and attack him there. Actually, I'd be very much like the insurgents in Iraq now. Some of their tactics are considered cowardly, but they're also smart. Hence, I wouldn't go up against God. I would simply try to stay out His field of view, as it were.

I wait for your next response to prove your sanity.

EDIT: nvm