The Rintrah Perspective

How does one determine what is right?

Usually it is not something that is determined but, rather, what is called “right” simply agrees with the other things a person believes.  But not necessarily.  The war-fetishists believe that human life has value.  But they also believe that war and killing others solves a problem.

While it may be true that it solves an immediate problem (i.e. a potentially violent disruption in the “right” social order) war does not determine who is right.  The winner may be correct but the same would be true if things had gone a different direction.

The Legions are starting their poppy campaign again.

One warrior says that on November 11 he will recount his war time experience because “no one should think like that.”  Like what?  Thinking that killing those who are different from you or think different than you is honourable?  Is that not what the Allies did as well?

What is called “right” is determined by the victors.

The Maccaabean Revolt and the bar Kochba revolt clearly demonstrate this.  In both cases the Jews arose and threatened the powers that be.  In the first case they won and set things in motion for the birth of Christianity.  In the second case they lost.  Were the Jews right to revolt in one case or the other?  or not at all?  or both?

Likely most would agree that they were right in revolting the first time due to the circumstances.  But the second time they lost and it was partially due to bar Kochba’s messiah complex.  Even still, it is clear that winning a battle and, more importantly, the war shapes the ideology in which those which follow perceive themselves and what is called “right.”  Winning is justification.

We live in an era which demands tolerance on every level.

Why is it that certain ideas are trashed and attacked (both physically and verbally) in order to maintain a minimum level of what is perceived as “right.”  Especially when tolerance is what we are fighting for? If we must fight for something then we should be fighting for the right of all ideas to co-exist.

But if you are scared that someone may come along and conquer you and force you into a box you do not want yourself or your children in, then your ideas never were strong enough to stand on their own.  Your ideas of right and wrong should be able to be passed on no matter who is ruling over you.  If they can’t then they never were worth fighting for in the first place.