Monday, November 24, 2008
What are you willing to die for?
The first day of class we discussed the major points about war and crafted questions regarding it. The question that stuck most with me was "What are you willing to die for?". This question serves as a reminder to the things we hold most dear in life and the things that we are willing to protect. Most likely, although unfortunately, the only time someone will think about what they would die for is when they are at war. War brings out some of the most brutal characteristics in a person but at the same time, can make them cherish life more than they did before. Only when a your life is threatened will you show your true personality. The idea of death is extremely scary for anyone and to me it is quite ridiculous if someone tells you they are not afraid to die. Although you may believe that you are willing to die for your country, your freedom, your family, and your friends, how will you act when your life is actually threatened? Will you still believe that sacrificing your own life will protect the lives of others? This question lingers in my mind because I plan on joining the Air Force after college. The idea of war and the military has always been of the utmost interest to me and has made me question what meaning and what purpose my life has. To me, the only way I can make a major impact on the people around me is joining the Air Force. I know that by joining I will be making a difference in this world while at the same time protecting my family and the country that I love. This class has helped reignite my growing interest in the military and has helped me question not only why war is waged, but who is willing to fight it.
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13 comments:
Nice Batman reference there, but it's totally true. Seeing someone just before their death is often extremely revealing.
i think that most people who would say they are unafraid of death mean that they aren't afraid of eventual death. Most people who face death (i.e., soldiers) will probably tell you they ARE afraid of death.
Good luck with the Air Force; make sure you talk to someone who has been in the Air Force before you sign up.
I somewhat disagree when you say "the only time someone will think about what they would die for is when they are at war" I believe that we were able to successfully come up with some things we would be willing to die for in class. While I do believe that being at war would make you question what you are actually willing to die for, I do not believe that it is the only scenario in which it probes the question.
"Only when a your life is threatened will you show your true personality." I think this quote is somewhat unfair, because when a person's life is on the line rules and ethics no longer exist. If you are captured and held as a prisoner of war, praying to god probably is not going to help you. Every person loves his or her life and would do whatever necessary to survive. I don't see this as an issue of unethical character or personality, but rather a desire to live.
I do admire your ambition and desire to join the Air Force and see this as a brave and noble deed. Serving one's country is an ultimate honor and something I greatly respect.
I think the only objection I have is when you make the claim that "Only when a your life is threatened will you show your true personality." I feel like there are lot of other trying situations that can bring out ones true personality. Further, I feel like death does not bring out the true personality as it ignites adrenalin, fear, and motivation, all of which can be manipulated by th subconscious id. Speaking in Freaudian terminology, this id can overpower the ego and superego delivering a win at all costs mentality. For most, at least, the id is not the true governing personality.
Good luck with th Air Force, call yourself Maverick.
I wonder what you said you'd be willing to die for. You say that the only time a person will think about what they would die for is when they are at war of very close to death, yet you plan on joining the Air Force. In order to join the Air Force or any Military branch involves some self-reflection and asking yourself, "would it be worth dying for?" Because of this I find what you say to be a bit hipocrytical. Haven't you answered this question yourself then? I'm curious to know how you would act in the face of death William Acton.
I think Brad brings up a good point. Your true personality is not neccesarily depicted in warfare because of (what Brad said) adrenaline, fear, and motivation. War is an unusual, and uncommon circumstance for most people to be placed in. Therefore, this cannot be your true personality. War can help one better understand what one would die for, but I don't think it can truly help one understand and identify their "true personality." There are many other cases, where death is more possible than in warfare, when our personalities are tested. These situations may be more meaningful than in combat.
I think that "it is quite ridiculous if someone tells you they are not afraid to die," is quite ridiculous. While the thought may be scary, I am not afraid to die. The only reason for a fear of death, for me at least, is what it would do to my family and friends if I died. But I have no actual fear of death. While I may be thinking of this in a non-warfare type sense, I still would not fear death in the regard of war. You have to be willing to fight and die if you go to war (at least in our culture). I think for some, you may be right - death is scary. It is a gross generalization, however, that everyone is afraid of death.
If everything that you said in your blog is how you feel, then I do not think you should join the airforce. If people do not know what they are willing to die for until they are faced with death, joining the military before you have this revelation is pointless. Joining the military is usually done to protect the things that you are willing to die for, however, according to you, people do not know what they will die for until they are in war. If one joins the military to protect something that he or she cannot define, isn't doing so pointless?
I disagree Jack and Will too. I feel that we do not truely all know what exactly we are willing to die for at this age. A few may, I'm sure, but the majority do not. I do not think we all realize yet the worth of our life or someone else. We all know that there are some extremities that most of us would submit to such as dying to save mankind or dying for world peace.
There are plenty of other opportunities to realize what you are willing to die for like gunpoint for example.
I agree with Shanil that "Only when a your life is threatened will you show your true personality" can't be true. If my life was threatened by a person trying to mug me, I am going to immediately remove all of my morals about murder and violence and instantly resort to those things.
Air Force - I'm behind you. GO FOR IT!
Good luck
I believe, as you do, that the only time a person can truly know what they are willing to die for is when one is faced with death as an immediate possibility. What we said we were willing to die for in class may be true, however I was reluctant to say anything because I do not feel like I can make that decision. We all seem to want to say that we would die for our families, but if someone was holding a gun to your head and gave you that choice, what would you really do? I for one have no idea how I would respond.
good luck in the air force. Hope you are 20/20
You have some good points, but I bet that people have thought what they would die for just in general, not just when the are about to be shipped off or in the battle field. Also think about when our country is not at war, you say, "who is willing to fight in a war". A lot of people who either join the army, navy or air force attend these academies to get through college. So if you asked each person who attends those academies I bet the first thoughts through there minds was not 'what am I willing to die for",
I agree with Tess, it's one thing to say you're willing to die for something in a private school classroom, it's quite another to say it in front of death itself.
I also think that some people are really not afraid to die. I think (at least some of the time) fear of death is associated with a fear of the unknown after death. I think many of the people who truly do not fear dying are the ones who are confident on where they're going after death, yes I'm referencing some form of afterlife here. Nothing I've said has been any sort of absolute statement, religious people can fear death, and non-religious people can be unafraid of death, too. It just seems that that's not usually how it plays out.
I agree with your comment that often times, in the face of danger we reveal who we really are. If a friend of your's is near death and you somehow put yourself in harms way to save them, only then can you truly say what you're willing to die for. No one knows what they are willing to die for until an opportunity presents itself in which death on behalf of someone or something else is possible.
I like how you brought up that most of us don't know what we are like when you get down to literal do or die situations. I'm sure that we'd love to think that we're willing to die for a certain belief and certain people but we won't really know until we find ourselves in those situations. I'd like to wish you luck if you ever do join the air force, definitely something to be proud of.
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