civilization is not instinctive.. It only thinly masks the brutality that we all can easily regress to in a fight for survival.
Very regrettably true. Just look at Bosnia, where, as soon as law and order broke down, people had no trouble raping to death their neighbours, whom they probably went to school with. Or read "Lord of the Flies".
Still, I would like (expect, even...) America to set an example in this matter, as the most advanced democracy on this planet and arguably the one place where law and justice is held above all other considerations - especially the primitive ones like "revenge".
I can almost guarantee you that those international treaties will be thrown in the basement until such a time when global order has been restored..
I know you are right. Hence my sadness in the understanding that in fighting the irrational crazies, we will become like them, rather than upholding our principles.
This made me think of the movie "Seven" where, at the very end, Brad Pitt shoots the serial killer guy who decapitated his pregnant wife that morning, knowing that was what the guy wanted and that "the right thing to do" would be to send him to courts, where he would certainly be put to death anyway... |
