Posted on 06/22/2016 2:32:51 PM PDT by lafroste
Ever since I woke up this morning I have been unusually bothered by my unexpected questioning of my response to the one great ethical dilemma in my life. This event took place, oddly enough, on April Fools day, 1997 which means that now it is nearly 20 years old. I had a little talk with God at the time asking Him if this was His idea of an April Fools joke on me. I am still interested in discussing this issue with Him when I finally meet Him Sandal to face.
Even though it is now 20 years past, I sense that it is still dangerous. Therefore I am still not going to reveal details. But the situation was this:
I was in a circumstance that let me see that the death of an evil man who richly deserved to die was also wrong, as in illegal. I could have easily prevented it (real easily, and probably make a small fortune at the same time). However, had I prevented it, I would have unleashed a sh&tstorm of truly epic proportions, costing millions of people potentially hundreds of millions of dollars and leading to a media feeding frenzy that would have lasted years. It would have easily made it to the SCOTUS. The people that I would hurt were friends of mine, people I admired. I let this evil man die (and no, I had no involvement with his demise). I shunned my 15 minutes of fame, the money that I could have gained, all of it.
My reflections today have led me to wonder about other people's ethical dilemmas, and if they still bother them or have they found peace. So, I would like to know how others contend with their own dilemmas. Discussion is welcome.
Have you started taking another new pharmaceutical?
No.
If you were not directly responsible for the circumstances causing the man’s death, I see no reason to feel guilt about it, especially if his demise may have prevented any harm coming to others.
I see it this way. Did you come across the knowledge of how to prevent this mans death suddenly or was it gained over a period of time. Whatever your ‘proof’ was, was it undeniably truthful. If you had spoken out, would it have involved a situation where someone could have committed perjury and created doubt your statements were false?
Did you learn about this ‘proof’ in a manner that leaves you to think that you were suppose to share it rather than conceal it? Do you think anyone else had the same ‘proof’ that you did and they withheld it also?
Some events become less clear in memory.
A mistaken view taken in excitement is not reexamined because it is too important to reexamine, and is reinforced instead.
Deserve has nothing to do with who lives and who dies.
Wrong is neither a proper subset nor a proper superset of illegal, and God does not deal in legalities.
Was it wrong? If it was, none of us here can give you absolution. If you're a Roman Catholic, only a priest can do that, if you're truly sorry. If you're a Buddhist, only you can.
I came across this knowledge abruptly, during the course of my duties at the time. The proof was unassailable and ALL of it was discover-able independently of me. It is just that no one else knew where or what to look for.
I am not “sorry” for my actions. Just conflicted. It really was an extraordinary situation.
Then as Sherlock Holmes said, "I am not retained by the police to make up for their deficiencies." ("The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle")
If given the option to kill one of two people or be killed yourself, there is a better answer between them.
Life is not fair and cannot be made fair. Decisions will haunt us. We will answer for them on Judgment Day.
God allows everything to happen that happens. It does not mean He doesn't want the best to have happened, but He chooses to not intervene. He expects us to be His tools to do Right. We have failings, however, so these things will be done imperfectly at least some part of the time.
I did not get along with my father, and was relieved when he passed on. He died with his live-in girlfriend (a nurse) who knowingly left him dead for 10-12 hours, and even then, she didn't call the authorities (instead, a distant friend of my dad's).
I don't care that he died that way. We had the coroner check reasons for death, just in case, but my duty was done at that. He left everything to the questionable nurse, down to the penny, over the rest of his immediate family.
I do not feel I did anything wrong in not stopping him from being with this questionable person. I don't feel I wrong for being happy he's dead. He knew better and chose his path many, many times over.
We can't “fix” or “save” everyone.
Heck, even my choice of dinner makes someone somewhere die, because that money instead could have made all the difference.
We need to care and work toward getting to a healthier place in our lives with God. We need to most of all, glorify God in all we do.
Our hearts and actions will always fall short. Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are. Continue to seek God's heart.
Aye, there is the rub. It WAS my place to intercept things like this. I let TPTB know, and he died anyway. It was a deliberate decision.
You don’t get to make the decision on who lives or dies; whether by action or inaction.
Only GOD gets to decide that.
If that is the case, I fail to see the problem, unless you were solely responsible for this persons' personal protection (like a body guard).
Are you saying that if you had prevented the death of this evil,man he would have rewarded you richly? But then he would have been able to continue in his evil ways and hurt millions of,people? But you would have been set for life with all the money you would ever need!
“So, I would like to know how others contend with their own dilemmas.”
Alcohol(not in excess) for a time and then I got over it. I will see what God says about it some day. I the meantime it cannot be undone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck-8gupG5hE
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