But then you become the monster you're fighting. Can you really win if you lose your soul in the process? Is the eventual victory worth it if you've lost all humanity?
It's a classic philosophical quandry.
If you compromise what separates you from the enemy, you lose what you said you were fighting for in the first place.
I knew someone would say that and no; I totally disagree.
If a pervert molests or abuses your child and you dispose of him, put him 6 feet under the river in some cement shoes but never harm another soul the rest of your life (assuming your family is never touched again); do you become a monster?
Do you become a horrible "murderer"?
You can fight evil; you can kill; without becoming a bad person.
I still view it as fighting with both hands and one leg tied behind our backs.
"If a pervert molests or abuses your child and you dispose of him, put him 6 feet under the river in some cement shoes but never harm another soul the rest of your life (assuming your family is never touched again); do you become a monster?"
Yes. Simple as that. You are now as bad as him. In fact worse, because you have ended a life, rather than just traumatised someone. (Also if you are religious you have just broken a central Commandment in 'Thou shalt not kill.')
It's not your place to take a life and be an executioner. We live in a civilized society and there is a legal process for punishment under the law. Acting outside it makes you a vigilante and if we all did that society breaks down. Not only have you compromised your own soul, but you have participated in the erosion of the social contract.
Alright.
You turn the other cheek & allow the pedophile to walk away.
He then goes on to molest 5 more kids, totally destroying their lives and sentencing them to decades of therapy and all sorts of mental & emotional issues.
Do you still feel so good about yourself?
At what point do you become complicit in committing evil by not stopping it when you have the chance and right to?
But then you become the monster you're fighting. Can you really win if you lose your soul in the process? Is the eventual victory worth it if you've lost all humanity?
It's a classic philosophical quandry.
If you compromise what separates you from the enemy, you lose what you said you were fighting for in the first place.
Reminds me of coin in hunger games. These people wanted a revolution. But I don't think they know what it means.
I knew someone would say that and no; I totally disagree.
If a pervert molests or abuses your child and you dispose of him, put him 6 feet under the river in some cement shoes but never harm another soul the rest of your life (assuming your family is never touched again); do you become a monster?
Do you become a horrible "murderer"?
You can fight evil; you can kill; without becoming a bad person.
I still view it as fighting with both hands and one leg tied behind our backs.
"If a pervert molests or abuses your child and you dispose of him, put him 6 feet under the river in some cement shoes but never harm another soul the rest of your life (assuming your family is never touched again); do you become a monster?"
Yes. Simple as that. You are now as bad as him. In fact worse, because you have ended a life, rather than just traumatised someone. (Also if you are religious you have just broken a central Commandment in 'Thou shalt not kill.')
It's not your place to take a life and be an executioner. We live in a civilized society and there is a legal process for punishment under the law. Acting outside it makes you a vigilante and if we all did that society breaks down. Not only have you compromised your own soul, but you have participated in the erosion of the social contract.
Alright. You turn the other cheek & allow the pedophile to walk away.
He then goes on to molest 5 more kids, totally destroying their lives and sentencing them to decades of therapy and all sorts of mental & emotional issues.
Do you still feel so good about yourself?
At what point do you become complicit in committing evil by not stopping it when you have the chance and right to?
We live (supposedly) in a society of justice and order. You cant have democracy and civilisaiton if you have lawlessness and vigilante chaos.
If they rape a child they have a fair trial and go to jail if convicted. We need the law to be enforced, is all.