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Slay Evil Immediately
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Slay Evil Immediately

OriginalCopier
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Posted 08/16/08 - 10:43 PM: Subject: Slay Evil Immediately	#1
"We do not ask for your poor or your hungry. We do not want your tired and sick. It is your corrupt we claim.It is your evil that will be sought by us.With every breath, we shall hunt them down.Each day we will spill their blood til it rains down from the skies.Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal, these are principles which every man of every faith can embrace.These are not polite suggestions. These are codes of behavior and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost." -Boondock Saints, courtroom speech "Slay Evil Immediately". From an anime called Rurouni Kenshin. Awesome show. I'm not here to preach anything, but I would be lying if I said this idea doesn't appeal to me on some level. I wanted to find out what thoughts occured to others. If you had the freedom to act in ways you new were right; without fear of reprisal from local law enforcement; what would it be like? Would there be less crime or more? Would the "badguys" (ie those that use force for material gain) form into factions and rule the streets or would the "good guys" (ie those that use force to protect people) be the victors? In most countries the people have given their power to protect themselves to their government. This method has numerous benefits, I'm not denying that, I just can't shake the feeling that we have given up something valuable in the name of social order. In the end the question I'm asking becomes this: Are we truly better off delegating the protection of our communities? Are we better as individuals never having to face death in support of our concept of right and wrong? To give away this responsibility and a small force of police has it's advantages; logistically, but personally...I believe we are losing something of great value to ourselves. It's one thing to say what is right and wrong, but to stand up and fight for it; that is a rare opportunity.

Tobias
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Posted 08/17/08 - 12:17 AM:	#2
You are asking for what would happen in a state of nature. I think it is already answered by how the world turned. What happened? We erected modes of production, legal systems, culture and unwritten law. We devised morals and attitudes and opinions. Do the bad guys rule or the good guys? Those who rule define who is bad, no? I think it will be like how it is now, in time there will be a balance between the segments of society and to quell blood shed we will enter into politics. Then we are on the way of aforementioned legal system, mores ethics and code of coduct, subculture an class.
"The Power of Kant compels you" "The Power of Kant compels you" "The Power of Kant compels you"

unenlightened
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Posted 08/17/08 - 06:56 AM:	#3
Boondock Saints wrote: .Each day we will spill their blood til it rains down from the skies.Do not kill, .... and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost. This works fine as long as it only applies to the other chaps. Unfortunately, they will want to apply it to you and I am one of them. I am what you call a badguy because I oppose you and you call yourself a goodguy - but I don't quite see it that way. It is very traditional to demonstrate one's virtue with the spilling of much blood - I had hoped it was going out of fashion.
The observer is the observed. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

OriginalCopier
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Posted 08/17/08 - 02:17 PM:	#4
Tobias I am asking if there could be some essential part of being human that we lose when we do not have to physically fight our own battles. Not to seek out enemies, but to protect ourselves when they seek out US. unenlightened A contradiction that has not escaped me, but is our current system any different? The Law is allowed to kill evil; the same killing that it forbids. The Law: a written code, defines who is lawful and who is not(not good and evil). Yet how many criminals are free and in operation because the law cannot define them? Good and evil are not defined by who is stronger (assuming that power is based on force). The correct idea is not defined by who wins the fight. An opponent that fights to make the world better cannot be evil, so it is possible to have two "good-guys" as sworn enemies because both believe themselves to be correct. Enemy is not just another way of spelling evil. "Unfortunately, they will want to apply it to you and I am one of them" If I were commiting actions that you considered to be evil, would you be willing to risk your life to end mine? If so, then maybe you get what I'm talking about here. Edited by OriginalCopier on 08/17/08 - 02:23 PM

unenlightened
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Posted 08/17/08 - 03:55 PM:	#5
You are commiting acts I consider to be evil. You are articulating a terrorist ideology (as does GW et al). I am willing to risk my life, but not to end yours. OriginalCopier wrote: ...it is possible to have two "good-guys" as sworn enemies because both believe themselves to be correct. This is why people who consider themselves to be unequivocally 'good guys' are evil and dangerous. The world is not a giant game of cowboys and indians, and until we stop acting as if it is, there will be no moral or spiritual improvement.
The observer is the observed. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

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