Ladiesman^
Spaceman
Originally posted by Skyfire
Perhaps you don't understand the logic I'm putting forth. Soldiers don't have to follow orders from individual commanders. Say your commander told you to burn down a village-I somehow doubt that's coming directly from the Pentagon. As such, you don't really have to burn that village! Go ahead-don't. What are they gonna do, put you on trial and then see that your NOT killing civilians?
Ok...but if it's not as clear cut as "burn that village". What if the order is "Destroy that Red Cross Facility. We have reason to beleive the enemy has captured it and is using it as a weapons depot".
Then what? Should I follow orders? If I was a soldier and I got that order, I would. So then what if it turned out I just blew up a legit Red Cross facility? Am I really to blame? Or i'm a pilot and I get an order to bomb some building. To me, it appears that building is just a normal civilian building. I doubt your CO is going to tell you everything they know. Instead, they'll say "bomb that building". What am I gonna do, say no?
As for killing military personel because you think it's immoral-well, that's too damn bad isn't it? That's what you do in the military, that's life.
That was kind of my point.....you said "(That's why they have the option of not doing things based upon morality, after all.) "
Well, I think killing people is immoral. Apparently, according to you, I don't have to kill people because I think it's immoral. Or does that only apply when it's convenient?
You think it's immoral? Guess you should have convinced them you REALLY thought it was immoral-after all, they have very specific guidelines, and if you can't explain your point according to those-you are either completely stupid, or not really as avid into your belief as you thought.
But....then what you said isn't correct then....you said you have the otpion of not doing things based on morality. It would seem I only have that option if I can convince enough people. So if my commander says "kill those people over there", according to you I can't say anything about it because well, that's the military. That's life.
Oh yeah-and another thing, the soldier following orders not being "responsible", that's the most ignorant statement I've heard in quite a while. Just because your told to do something, doesn't mean you do.
But...you just said a minute ago when I though killing people was immoral "That's the military. That's life". So now you can go in the military and just decide your not going to follow orders! Wow I should join up then.
"Private Ladiesman, drop and give me 20"
"Sir, I respectfully decline that order"
"WHAT?!"
If you REALLY don't want to commit that act-then why are you so concerned about that military prison?
I'd rather commit the act than go to prison, personally. If somebody said "kill those people over there. If you don't, your going to prison"....those people would be dead....
After all, even if it is hell-your high on your moral ground. Your just trying to excuse people's actions and give them a cop-out, that's just allowing people a way to feel better for not standing up for their beliefs.
You get me wrong...I don't REALLY feel that way...i'd gladly kill the enemy in any war. I was simply trying to look at it through the eyes of a soldier. If I were in the military, I would generally think my duty is to obey the orders given to me, NOT question them. Yes, if something is really incredibly blantantly wrong than I can see it. What I was originally trying to say was it's NOT always clear cut like that. It may not always be as easy to simply not do it either. I mean, what if your in a tank and they order you to blow up something. You know it's wrong, but the rest of the tank crew is merrilly going about it. What do you do then? Just kick back and in a really obnoxious Dana Carvey voice say "Not gonna do it!"? If i'm in the navy, and we launch a missile at a civilian target and I was the one who "pressed the button", it's NOT my fault. They told me to fire, and so I did.