...TO DIE FOR?

[Etienne]

As it is the July 4th weekend, I was thinking about this question: Who or what would you be willing to die for? I can readily answer by naming my husband, my children, my faith--but would I die for a stranger? I'd like to THINK I would. Would I be willing to die to defend freedom? Again, I'd like to BELIEVE I would, but I have never been put in that position so it's easy enough to think well of myself and say this. But it is REALLY sobering to know that so many would (and do) give their lives for freedom for others. How would you answer?

 

[Dixon Cannon]

A very simple question...

...requiring a very simple, staightforward, sincere answer. Especially during this Independence Day holiday celebration.

I have sworn a solemn oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies both foreign and domestic. When I weigh that against the sacrifices of our founders and those who pledged their "lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" to sign our Unanimous Declaration, it is a pledge that I take as seriously as life itself.

We live in a time when 'sacred honor' isn't given much credence. We live in a time when oaths, and declarations, and Constitutions aren't given much value.

I, for one, hold 'these truths' in the highest esteem and would defend them with my life. Already, in life, we find ourselves on the defensive against those who would discard, replace or otherwise disparage our founding Principles. The Revolution won hard at Yorktown is not yet over.

Sincerely,
Dixon Cannon
Neo-Jeffersonian Constitutional Fundamentalist

 

[Strider]

I love that line. "Foreign and domestic".

I'd give my life for freedom if that's what I was fighting for. I'd have to know that's what I was giving my life for before I'd give it up.

 

[Andykev]

I do. I will.

As it is the July 4th weekend, I was thinking about this question: Who or what would you be willing to die for? I can readily answer by naming my husband, my children, my faith--but would I die for a stranger? I'd like to THINK I would. Would I be willing to die to defend freedom? Again, I'd like to BELIEVE I would, but I have never been put in that position so it's easy enough to think well of myself and say this. But it is REALLY sobering to know that so many would (and do) give their lives for freedom for others. How would you answer?

I, humbly, do it every day I put on my uniform.

"I, ______, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”

 

[Etienne]

I know that oath all too well! My 33 years of marriage has been to my dedicated husband who upheld that same oath every day (I might add that he did so without EVER taking a sick day in 33 years!) How fortunate I have been to be at the side of such a man who has demonstrated courage, honor, integrity and steadfastness, and has been an outstanding example to his family.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I agree Strider

I love that line. "Foreign and domestic".

I'd give my life for freedom if that's what I was fighting for. I'd have to know that's what I was giving my life for before I'd give it up.

I fear that those domestic enemies may well be more devious and dangerous than the perported foreign ones.

 

[G. Fink-Nottle]

I fear that those domestic enemies may well be more devious and dangerous than the perported foreign ones.

You bet. There are many out there who would deny us our constitutional rights. And, there are many out there that would let them.

 

[scotrace]

Speaking of The Founding Fathers

Any of the founders would have been executed by The Crown had they been caught. What they were doing was treason, a capital offense.

It's rather astonishing that, after the American Civil War, the leadership of the Confedracy, while some were imprisoned for awhile, lived out their lives at home. Jeffeson Davis lived another twenty years and died at his estate in Mississippi (now badly damaged by Katrina). Lincoln had been insisting on a policy of "no retaliation" before he died. It is extraodinary that his wishes were respcted. One would expect that Davis especially would have been hanged. He was the symbolic and actual (however reluctant) leader of a rebellion against the government.

Robert E. Lee did receive a singular psychological punishment. After the war he became President of George Washington University (Now Washington and Lee University. Taking the train to work, he passed by his former family estate: Arlington. Lincoln seized it early in the war and turned it into a cemetery for Union war dead. So each Day General Lee rode past his front lawn, in which were interred dead Yankees....

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I'm gonna be a stick in the mud and say that i'm not prepared to die. period.

bk

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

I'm gonna be a stick in the mud and say that i'm not prepared to die. period.

I was waiting for somebody so say that. Well, actually I was waiting for the Baron to say that. Anyway, the problem is, depending on where you express this opinion, you'd better be prepared to die….

Just FYI: Under (otherwise) normal circumstances, there are three reasons where a Jew should a priori resist and rather die: when the bad guys threaten you and tell you to commit

- murder
- incest
- idolatry

Otherwise, it's not only not commanded, it's forbidden. The value of life is very special.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Ah yes. Not prepared to die, but fully understanding that it may happen for a variety of reasons. I mean that i wouldn't be prepared to willingly put myself in that position ...

bk

 

[Caledonia]

I would be trying very hard not to die while defending whatever it was that needed defending, but would I actually do it voluntarily? I think I would for the right things (caveated by my first sentence), and I would definitely launch myself head first with tooth and claw bared at anyone who tried to hurt my husband or my dogs (don't have kids). It's something I've though about a lot too, but I can't say, hand on heart and with complete honesty, that I know I would do it.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Caledonia...

I would be trying very hard not to die while defending whatever it was that needed defending, but would I actually do it voluntarily? I think I would for the right things (caveated by my first sentence), and I would definitely launch myself head first with tooth and claw bared at anyone who tried to hurt my husband or my dogs (don't have kids). It's something I've though about a lot too, but I can't say, hand on heart and with complete honesty, that I know I would do it.

I'm reminded of what Gen. George Patton said in one of his (in)famous speaches; "..no b*****d ever won a war by dying for his country. You won it by making the other poor dumb b*****d die for his country."

I could agree with that. -dixon cannon

 

[LizzieMaine]

It's funny, I really don't think in terms of dying for a political cause or a principle or a belief system. Not that I don't have strongly held beliefs, but I find it very difficult to put them into terms of something I'd be willing to lay down my life for.

What I *would* be willing to die for are *people.* Individuals, not principles or causes or theories. If I saw someone in front of me suffering -- regardless of who they were or what flag they saluted or what god they worshipped -- and I was told I could make it stop by giving my own life in their stead, I don't think I'd have any choice but to do so.

But I also have very strong feelings about animal cruelty -- and I think the only thing that could motivate me to take another life would be the sight of someone wilfully abusing another creature, whether human or not.

 

[Viola]

I would die to protect my family. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't. I would kill to protect them, too, and personally I'd rather go with Option B.

I'd rather die than recant or dishonor my religion.

I would fight for my Constitution but not always for my government.

 

[Twitch]

Protecting your family is a given. I can tell you that anyone in combat only truly cares about protecting his buddies and keeping them alive as they do for him. As strange as it may sound you mostly care nothing for your self.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

I would die to protect my family. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't. I would kill to protect them, too

Which wouldn't be murder, as I assume you mean killing in defence rather than kill an innocent at the threat of a third person to otherwise kill your family.

 

[mikepara]

Putting it bluntly

..when I joined the Army I was willing to die for just £5.00 day. Yes I did and would go anywhere and do whatever my Government expected of me. But it really only came down to the £5.00 a day.

 

[Viola]

Which wouldn't be murder, as I assume you mean killing in defence rather than kill an innocent at the threat of a third person to otherwise kill your family.

Yeah, I couldn't kill an innocent person. Even if I didn't believe it was a sin, even if I didn't have to look at the innocent person who I was killing, it'd be unlikely to actually save anyone I cared about.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I don't look at it in terms of dying for something, but rather fighting for something. I will fight for my life, my family, my freedom and my country.