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The Pleasures of Assassination
http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm/frm/13921/sec_id/13921 ^
| Theodore Dalrymple
Posted on 12/30/2007 8:35:43 PM PST by ventanax5
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To: ventanax5
I often find myself in agreement with Dalrymple, but not here. To my mind, courage can only be manifest in a selfless and virtuous act; courage is a sacrifice, or a potential sacrifice, so that good may vanquish evil. Assassins and suicide bombers, no matter how reckless, no matter how fanatical is their belief in their evil cause, or their eagerness to die for it, can never be courageous. Their goal is only to inflict misery and fear. A zealot who dies for his cause is not courageous because he doesn’t care whether he lives or dies. A hero wants to live to see a good cause triumph, but is prepared to die to deny evil a victory.
41
posted on
12/30/2007 10:14:30 PM PST
by
mojito
To: ventanax5
Incredibly silly arguments.
42
posted on
12/30/2007 10:22:57 PM PST
by
GregoryFul
(is a bear a bomb in a bull?)
To: ventanax5
and above all then to blow yourself up just to make sure that you have succeeded. I'd wager he blew himself up to keep from getting torn to pieces by the crowd.
43
posted on
12/30/2007 10:25:12 PM PST
by
Mr. Mojo
To: tx_eggman
I agree...when you value life, it is brave to give it up...when you believe that you will receive 72 virgins upon your death, the same act may be lustful, but it isn’t brave.
44
posted on
12/31/2007 1:02:08 AM PST
by
willyd
(Tickets, fines, fees, permits and inspections are synonyms for taxes)
Interesting point to ponder, one that theologians have grappled with for ages...was Jesus’ sacrifice courageous given that he was in the unique position of eternal salvation being a certainty without the need for faith?
To: Dave Elias
No disrespect meant by the way - I’m just interested to hear other’s take on the nature of Christ’s sacrifice.
To: ventanax5
It's a long drive between courage and just plain stupid. The enemy isn't in any way courageous. They are brain washed and don't know any better because they've been programmed to NOT think for themselves. A person allowed to think for himself wouldn't buy into that 70 virgins and whatever else they are told from the time they can hear.
47
posted on
12/31/2007 2:49:50 AM PST
by
Picklezz
(HUNTER: SOLID - A Conservative's Conservative. He's the man for the job.)
To: Dave Elias
Good grief man, Jesus didn’t need salvation. He provided it. He was doing the will of God the Father. It had nothing to do with courage. He asked if “this cup could pass from me....)but he freely and willingly accepted what He came to do. To save our miserable souls. Not His. He always knew what His purpose was in coming to earth. No surprise to Him.
48
posted on
12/31/2007 2:56:52 AM PST
by
Picklezz
(HUNTER: SOLID - A Conservative's Conservative. He's the man for the job.)
To: Picklezz
His soul was not then and is not now, miserable. Sorry to have accidently implied that.
49
posted on
12/31/2007 2:59:33 AM PST
by
Picklezz
(HUNTER: SOLID - A Conservative's Conservative. He's the man for the job.)
To: ventanax5
It’s an idiotic point of debate.
50
posted on
12/31/2007 3:05:12 AM PST
by
Glenn
(Free Venezuela!)
To: MinuteGal
Oh, I have an idea that Daylrymple is a harmless, bespectacled academic/English language analyzer with no agenda other than to stretch 500-word articles into 1500 words on what the meaning of “is” is....and in this case, bravery vs. cowardice.
No, he is one of the most insisive minds in conservative thought in Europe.
He is defining the difference between bravery and courage. Something that the west doesnt get.
51
posted on
12/31/2007 3:07:40 AM PST
by
Chickensoup
(If it is not permitted, it is prohibited. Only the government can permit....)
To: MinuteGal
—he is a retired doctor who usually writes scathng articles on the failure of the Brit socialized medicine scheme or the deterioration of British society—
52
posted on
12/31/2007 4:25:57 AM PST
by
rellimpank
(--don't believe anything the MSM tells you about firearms or explosives--NRA Benefactor)
To: ventanax5
>> and above all then to blow yourself up just to make sure that you have succeeded. <<
Suicide does not take courage; it is the ultimate cowardly act. Courage is being willing to risk what you desire to keep.
53
posted on
12/31/2007 4:39:50 AM PST
by
dangus
To: Picklezz
But what was the sacrifice?
To: rellimpank; Chickensoup
I wasn't putting the good doctor down. Au contraire, I was pointing out in a light-hearted way that I didn't think he had some kind of radical agenda as some posters seemed to suspect.
Happy New Year!
Leni
55
posted on
12/31/2007 8:16:58 AM PST
by
MinuteGal
(Three Cheers for the FRed, White and Blue !!!)
To: SierraWasp; MinuteGal
Before you leap to judgment, I suggest you click on the link and read the entire piece.
Dalrymple takes the time to explain exactly what he's saying. And he is correct.
Otherwise good men can be cowards.
And evil men can be courageous.
But neither would be an admirable man.
Dalrymple is a superb essayist...he always makes his readers think.
56
posted on
12/31/2007 8:42:56 AM PST
by
okie01
(THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
To: okie01
57
posted on
12/31/2007 8:45:29 AM PST
by
MinuteGal
(Three Cheers for the FRed, White and Blue !!!)
To: ventanax5
this is the same thinking as Bill Maher regarding the ‘courage’ of the hijackers who flew the planes into the World Trade Center compared (per Maher) with the cowards in the US military who merely drop bombs from several thousand feet in the air.
58
posted on
12/31/2007 8:46:05 AM PST
by
EDINVA
To: ventanax5
Interesting. I wonder if the shooter knew about the bomber; or vice versa.
59
posted on
12/31/2007 8:57:25 AM PST
by
AndrewB
To: Dave Elias
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