Is suicide brave? Well yes, if you're not dying already from some scary disease, or so emotionally distressed death is a relief. Those Buddhists who immolated themselves during the Vietnam war struck me as brave. Not you?
Is suicide killing in the cause of a holy war brave? I think so. Whether it's our guys, or theirs, making yourself a human weapon seems brave to me- regardless of who you kill. Killing the "innocent" only makes you a coward if you aren't going to be dead yourself. We call killing the "innocent" cowardly, because usually the innocent are not going to kill the perpetrator (which is one reason we call them "the innocent"). In this case that isn't an issue.
So knights in the crusades who launched themselves on to cities against great odds were brave, even though in the process of sacking the city they killed "innocents"- as long as they themselves were at great risk. So whether Crusader or Mussulman, Christian or Moslem, those who put themselves in peril for their beliefs (or even for cash) are brave, regardless of whom they kill. IMO
Should an anti abortionist blow himself up, in the service of bombing a clinic, he would be brave (though every bit as misguided as the 9/11 folks.) People who do such things remotely, at little risk to themselves, are killing innocents in a rather cowardly way- but killing yourself in the service of your ideal or religion at risk to your own life- or in the knowledge your forfeit your life? On our side or theirs, this is bravery.
Is an abortion bomber blowing himself up in the service of Christ while killing abortion doctors a coward? Is he not brave? |
