4 ms·

I'm sorry to be a wet blanket here. I know it's early and these are still alleged murderers but I feel no responsibility to "grow my mindfulness" with respect

by rubyfan 11y ago

I'm sorry to be a wet blanket here. I know it's early and these are still alleged murderers but I feel no responsibility to "grow my mindfulness" with respect to the human condition of alleged murderers. Sometimes people are evil and do evil things and I can understand why good people get angry enough to disrespect the names of evil people.

williamle8300 11y ago
Are you saying a "terrorist" is no longer a human being?
- rubyfan 11y ago
  I am not sure how you would read that from my comment. But to answer your question, no they are still technically human. But also I do not feel inclined or obligated to afford a terrorist a courtesy of understanding their motivation or point of view or grow my mindfulness. Murder is evil, terrorists are evil - is there more to understand in anyway other than purely academic? One is naive to believe understanding the human condition of a murderer by getting to know their family or understanding them pre-radicalized will bring change or make an impact or stop the next one. No offense but in my opinion this is philosophical gibberish.
  - andyl 11y ago
    Gaining an understanding of your enemy's background, capabilities and motivations is not a 'courtesy'. Rather, such knowledge is needed to achieve victory. "If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles."
    - rubyfan 11y ago
      You are making a fine point, but I think the spirit of your comment is quite different from the original from @williamle8300. Your point a agree with on a big picture level, the war fighters and analysts and policy makers need to understand capabilities and motivation of the enemy. I'm not a war fighter and I don't believe it makes any sense for me or other Joe Average Citizen to empathize or understand a psychopathic foreign enemy. Understanding in this case won't get you far.

by rubyfan 11y ago

williamle8300 11y ago

Are you saying a "terrorist" is no longer a human being?

rubyfan 11y ago
I am not sure how you would read that from my comment. But to answer your question, no they are still technically human. But also I do not feel inclined or obligated to afford a terrorist a courtesy of understanding their motivation or point of view or grow my mindfulness. Murder is evil, terrorists are evil - is there more to understand in anyway other than purely academic? One is naive to believe understanding the human condition of a murderer by getting to know their family or understanding them pre-radicalized will bring change or make an impact or stop the next one. No offense but in my opinion this is philosophical gibberish.
- andyl 11y ago
  Gaining an understanding of your enemy's background, capabilities and motivations is not a 'courtesy'. Rather, such knowledge is needed to achieve victory. "If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles."
  - rubyfan 11y ago
    You are making a fine point, but I think the spirit of your comment is quite different from the original from @williamle8300. Your point a agree with on a big picture level, the war fighters and analysts and policy makers need to understand capabilities and motivation of the enemy. I'm not a war fighter and I don't believe it makes any sense for me or other Joe Average Citizen to empathize or understand a psychopathic foreign enemy. Understanding in this case won't get you far.