[lit-ideas] Re: Virility and Slaughter
- From: "Richard Koenigsberg, Ph. D." <libraryofsocialscience@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 18:23:45 -0500
The implication of the passage below is that the officer is cruel
because he finds it "fun" to shoot and kill people.
However, the underlying meaning contained within the story has to do
with morality. It is only because his culture tells him that it is GOOD =
to
kill that he is allowed to express the sentiment that it is FUN to kill.
Beneath every case of slaughter carried out in the name of
civilization, there is MORAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is not cruelty or =
pleasure in
inflicting cruelty that is the central issue (or problem), but how
civilizations come to define killing and cruelty as GOOD.
Richard Koenigsberg
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx =
[mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Robert Paul
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 5:18 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Virility and Slaughter
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A three-star Marine general who said it was "fun to
shoot
some people" should have chosen his words more carefully, the Marine =
Corps
commandant said Thursday.
Lt. Gen. James Mattis, who commanded Marine expeditions in Afghanistan =
and
Iraq,
made the comments Tuesday during a panel discussion in San Diego,
California.
"Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a =
hoot,"
Mattis
said, prompting laughter from some military members in the audience. =
"It's
fun
to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling.
"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five =
years
because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said. "You know, guys like that
ain't
got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot =
them."
Mattis' press office has not yet responded to a request to answer =
questions
about his comments.
However, the Marine commandant, Gen. Michael Hagee, defended Mattis, =
calling
him
"one of this country's bravest and most experienced military leaders."
"While I understand that some people may take issue with the comments =
made
by
him, I also know he intended to reflect the unfortunate and harsh =
realities
of
war," he said in a written statement. "Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with =
a
great
deal of candor."
Hagee said he had counseled Mattis regarding the remarks and that Mattis
"agrees
he should have chosen his words more carefully."
=20
[complete story at
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/03/general.shoot/index.html]
Robert Paul
Reed College
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