Imagine a soldier who believes killing another human being is wrong, kills his first human being in war when he has never killed before. Worse still, imagine this same soldier has his enemy in his sites and the enemy appears defenseless. Here, he might be allowed the luxury to have that moment with himself to debate whether he should pull the trigger or not. But on another day he may not have that luxury. Imagine further, a soldier is in this situation because his father was a soldier, and his grandfather was a soldier, and he is trying to please them but, unlike them, he doesnt believe killing people in war is right, yet there he is on the battlefield anyway where killed or be killed leads the list in the armys operation manual. So, he pulls the trigger anyway even though hes categorically against killing another human being. And maybe this is the first time hes compromised on such a high principle and he continues killing other people as long as hes in the war and each time it becomes easier and easier until his principle, his absolute truth, is a motto not to live by, but one that is just a topic of conversation in a philosophy class or a backyard barbecue. War has changed him. From Messages From a Grandfather, by Robert Gately
About This Quote
About Robert Gately
Robert Gately.
Themes
- Death — Contemplations on mortality, loss, and the legacy we leave
- Philosophy — Deep thoughts on existence, knowledge, and the nature of reality
- War — Reflections on conflict, peace, and the human cost of war