But what about sympathy ? by Fremdfirma

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

But what about sympathy ?

POSTED BY: FREMDFIRMA
UPDATED: Thursday, October 25, 2007 14:00
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:20 PM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

In the Line of Duty

I guess the idea behind this thread is that when people take on dangerous jobs and die, they have experienced the privilege of dying doing what they chose to do, facing risks they knew they'd face. So, given that, we should not mourn them with too much alacrity. They should be mourned or recognized just the same as all other people who die.

And from one point of view, I understand. Most deaths are the result of chosen risk factors. You drive a car, you accept the possibility of getting in a car accident. You cross the street, you accept the possibility of getting run over. You stand out in the rain, you accept the possibility of lightning. You walk down the sidewalk, you accept the possibility of a mugging. You eat a cheeseburger, you accept the possibility of a heart attack. You drink a soda, you accept the possibility of diabetes. I guess it goes on and on. Just being alive is an acceptance of a myriad of risks that could end up with you dead.

But here's where I think I differ in opinion. The Police Officer? The Military Man? The Firefighter? The Rescue Worker? These people accept all the risks of the common man, and then they choose the additional risks unique to their profession. Professions which involve actively seeking risk and facing it time and again.

When these people die, and we mourn them with just a bit more alacrity, I think it is merely an acknowledgement of their character. It is not that their deaths were so much more tragic, but that their lives were unnusually noble. Their willingness to choose a career in which they'd face these additional expected risks marks them as a special kind of person. They carried the burden of all of us, and then chose to carry more. It's not the manner of their death that is especially tragic to me. Rather, it is the end of their life. A life of carrying the additional risks and burdens that I am not prepared to bear.

Oh sure, the politically motivated people on any side of an issue will create pomp in order to serve their purpose. But when I hear that one of these special people has died, I don't dismiss additional emotion because they chose the risks that felled them. Rather, I invest additional emotion because they chose the risks that felled them. Risks that I couldn't bring myself to choose.

Maybe that's wrong-thinking, but it 'feels' right to me. And on the issue of mourning the dead, I think that 'feeling' is what it's all about.

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:33 PM

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Maybe that's wrong-thinking, but it 'feels' right to me. And on the issue of mourning the dead, I think that 'feeling' is what it's all about.

It’s not wrong-thinking. It’s very well put.

Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:49 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
It’s not wrong-thinking. It’s very well put.

Yes, very well put.
A very honourable way of looking at it, which (IMO) is not at odds with how Frem sees it.

At least, not how I think he sees it.

Frem?

Humble Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:48 AM

FREMDFIRMA

Chris, both responses are equally valid - I'm just tired of folks who honor their fallen somewhat differently being flamed as unsympathetic, you understand.

What really started this, is that some of the troops I talk to have a severe norse mythos bent to their beliefs, and in such, you don't bow your head and mourn when someone gets sent to valhalla, you throw a party to celebrate their elevation - and they caught some nastiness from folk up the chain who didn't really understand where they were coming from and totally flamed them about it.

Just because some folk do not grieve, doesn't mean they're not honoring their fallen, and I wanted folk to understand that not everyone looks at it the same way, and I really hope that point got across, cause those two were pretty upset over the whole thing, really.

-Frem

It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history, are doomed to endlessly repeat it

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Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:08 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
some of the troops I talk to have a severe norse mythos bent to their beliefs, and in such, you don't bow your head and mourn when someone gets sent to valhalla, you throw a party to celebrate their elevation

That's cool.
I'm part Irish myself, so I expect a drunken party for my passing with funny stories of my misdeeds to be shared!
We all miss our friends that head off on the great journey ahead of us, but we'll all be launching in that Viper eventually.

Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:28 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Klingons will be Klingons. Pass the blood wine. ;-)

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:38 AM

CHRISISALL

"I think we 'ave an accord!"

isall

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Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:00 PM

LEADB

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Just because some folk do not grieve, doesn't mean they're not honoring their fallen, and I wanted folk to understand that not everyone looks at it the same way, and I really hope that point got across, cause those two were pretty upset over the whole thing, really.
-Frem

I would only disagree in that they =are= mourning; just in their own way.

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