Bag's Rants

Dying for your beliefs.

I was reading an article on a US blog where someone was comparing the 911 terrorists, US soldiers and the 911 rescuers where they were all brave people prepared to give their lives for what they believe in. I tried to leave a comment but couldn't create an account¹.

Now I said myself in the past that the terrorists are almost unstoppable due to their numbers and willingness to die. A few will get through no matter what we do. They are brave but that is based on their belief system. After all they see death as a transition into another life where the land is milk and honey and they basically get to actually screw a woman. Heaven indeed for most of them. Because of the willingness to die a competent leader could bring the UK to it's knees in a few months if they had a couple of dozen of these guys who could perform basic tasks and a lot of money to back them up. But luckily so far they seem to be lead by incompetents. That surely can't last long. Anyway, I digress.

Our guys on the other hand do not all believe in an afterlife. Atheists have died in Iraq. All want to go home and see their wives and children. They are not willing to line up and die in droves but their bravery comes from the fact they are willing to die if necessary to protect something they believe in. Our guys go into risky situations confident that they will make a difference and if they don't make it then they may save others.

Firefighters go to work every day knowing they could die but are prepared to put themselves at risk to save people. Our soldiers go out to fight knowing they could die but prepared to do so because it is protecting their country². This is true sacrifice. They weigh up the odds and consider their deaths as a risk. Most will go into a burning building if a child is inside. Just for the chance to save them. Willingness to die to protect something and, potentially, give something up yourself. None of our guys would walk into a situation where they knew were going to die and they could not see a benefit. Even our 911 rescuers though they could do some good.

The terrorists are doing this just to pay a fee to enter heaven. Which is actually quite selfish. The more unbelievers they kill the better and even their own families are fuel to be consumed by the hatred. The mindset involved in sending your children out as mine detectors, suicide bombers or using them as PR is beyond most of us in the west. We would rather die ourselves.

Brave the terrorists may be but it's hardly in the same league as our guys. I salute all our armed forces, security services and emergency services. Keep up the good work and God³ be with you.

1) The guy must know me.
2) Let's not get into the Iraqi war debate.
3) Substitute whatever deity you consider your own.

posted by Bag @ 12:54 pm