Would you risk your life for your political enemy?

Many of us don't just disagree with our political opponents, we've even taken it to the next level by entertaining some pretty serious malice in our hearts and minds. This is especially so as both political sides have come to view the other as having a serious potential for bringing mega-destructive consequences to everyone, even to future generations. The stakes are high on the national level, but how does this translate at the human level? What's the exchange rate for going from a political context to a human one?

If someone that you presently detest (hypothetically speaking, of course) for his or her politics was drowning out in front of you and no one else was around to lend a hand (or a critical eye), would you have any internal debate whether to rescue them? What if you knew that the rescue attempt would also put your own life in some considerable danger?

I wish I could say for sure that I would make the attempt regardless of who it was or the risk involved, but in a few cases that come to my own mind, I would have some difficulty. But, I think I'd end up saying "screw it", and go on in after them, in spite of the risk. But then again...??? Regardless, even if I would do the right thing, I don't think it would be without wasting some time doing an inner debate. I wish it were otherwise.

Any thoughts - or even better, answers...

 

I can't even relate to the question at all. My mom and dad are extreme left---and I'm extreme right. But politics are not an obstacle to love and respect.

 

The reason political discourse has become so toxic is that both parties have brought the nation to the verge of ruin. To keep power, they then try to blame all the poo they have inflicted upon us on the other party. So both parties essentially feed into this toxic discourse on purpose and people lap it up like dogs as they take up sides to fight to the death.

I've heard that the US military has begun training our soldiers to take care of riots in the US. If true, it would stand to reason that they see an end game here that is not very pleasant, yet they persist.

 

Cool! I'm glad you can't relate. I guess I was thinking something more along the lines of - well - not family, but strangers. Like, for example, suppose you're on the Right somewhere beyond centrist but not a skinheaded Nazi or anything - would you risk your life to save Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid?

 

I think both the left and right want essentially the same things. They want oppurtunity, they want freedom etc. However, they then turn to statists who wish nothing more than to exert control over the populace, as both sides become disillusioned.

And that pretty much sums up where we are now.

 

That wouldn't surprise me! We already are seeing rioting in a way - that is, in the way that rust is a very slow burning.

 

Yes, but I doubt they would do the same for me.

 

That slow burn would change into a brush fire if the economy tanked severly and/or a major war occurs. Both I think are very much a possibility.

 

Yes - unfortunately, I have to agree. I doubt whether very many have given much thought to the likelihood of some confluence from Hell - Flag Ship America's Perfect Storm. But it's not nearly as unlikely as most of us would prefer to think.

 

I'd like to hope I'd be man enough to just act without thinking in that situation and do the right thing instinctively without fearing for my own safety. Life is precious. And unless you've done something truly horrible like killed somebody, your life is valuable to me. I don't care if you're the biggest butt-head in the world. You're still a human being.

 

Politics aren't a factor at all. I can't say until the time comes if I even have the courage to save anybody.....I would hope so.

 

I think right and left want what's right and good. Unfortunately the left is misguided in how to get there.......

 

And the right isn't? The left blames corporate America and the right blames the government while both defending the other bad guy. The only thing that I don't get is that the left says corporate America owns our politicians, and then seeks to empower them further. You might say the elevator only goes up one floor. Now the dimwits are cheering as corporate America can now set their tax rates via mandated corporate medical coverage all because their guy Obama made it so. Had it been "W" they would have been all up in arms.

 

Hmmm, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are drowning in a lake. I'd definitely be tempted to just keep on walking.

 

I'm am so glad to see all the people who would choose humanity over politics. It reaffirms my faith in the human race and gives me hope for the future. My biggest problem with Ayn Rand and Objectivism is the belief that altruism is a weakness. She couldn't be more wrong, it is humanities greatest strength.

 

I disagree. The "right" isn't perfect...as people aren't. But the principals of the "right" are strong. The principals of the "left" are destructive to our society and country.

 

No, But not because he/she didn't agree with me politically. Rather because I don't feel like putting my life in danger to save some one I don't know. But if I had to choose betwwen saving two people, and all other things equal, I'd choose the one with whom I agree the most with.

 

I'd save my dogs over even people I agree with. Sad, but true. Guess I'm not a what ya'd call "a people person". lol

 

true that. I mean, my precious white little cat is actually worth more to me then, for example, you. So if I was given a choice, tough luck But I see nothing wrong with valuing people or animals or even things that you really care about higher than some random dude you've never met or seen or ever will. You are free to prefer your dog over me

 

Nope, nope, nope. We are trained in how to handle riots, but in a generic term. Where they would happen really does not matter.

And how often is the military called out for things like this? Once a decade? Once in 2 decades? This is such a non-issue that I largely find it laughable.

And yes, I would rick my life for anybody. I do not put politics as such an issue that it overrides the value of human life. Although I find it ironically funny that a lot of people who scream and curse at me are also often among the first that would come up running if my help was needed. Call it my sense of perversity.

 

In my opinion the military should be used to quell riots. Like the London riots for example.. God, I wish those idiots would just get run over by tanks and shot with live ammunition. But maybe that's just me.

But on topic, would you risk your life for a nazi or communist? I actually don't think I would, the world would simply be better off without them

 

Yes, that is just you. And no, the military should absolutely not be used to quell riots, unless the situation is so out of control that local authorities can no longer hold things together.

The military is an organization that is largely designed to kill people and break things. And the use of such force to try to end what is largely social issues is in no way appropriate, other then in extreem cases, as we saw in LA in 1992 when thousands of fires were started, dozens of people killed, and disorder covering hundreds of square miles. In this situation the city law enforcement was in no way able to control things, and had to turn to outside help.

But this is an extreme case. And your remarks about running people over with tanks is nice, maybe you should go to China, because that is how they handle their public unrest. When people protest there, in come the tanks.



Thanks, but no thanks. We try to preserve life whenever we can, not to take it because you are pissed off at people who do not agree with you.

Yes, I would. In a heartbeat. When I see somebody that needs help, my first thought is not "What religion is he?" or "I wonder who she voted for in the last election?". I just want to go in and help, reguardless of who they are. And if you place political beliefs over that of human life, all I can say is that I feel sorry for you.

 

Humanity and politics are related, just like religion and humanity are related. One affects the other.

 

I won't lie or play Johnny Bravo- it depends on who is drowning. If it's my idiot leftist friend across the street, I'll save him. If it's a true @$$hole who I have good reason to hate, enjoy sleeping with the fishes. Reid, Pelosi, Obama, have a nice swim. Bill Clinton, I'll save and then buy him a beer.

 

Firstly, that's a strawman. I don't want to send tanks unto people with whom I disagree, but people who are rioting i.e destorying public and/or private property, looting, robbing, assaulting, murdering. though I can say that I CERTAINLY do not agree with those. People like that have forfeited their rights and could very well be killed by the military in my view. Of course, peace should be tried first, just making the point that I'm willing to use lethal force to stop them. Also, if china sends tanks against people who are actually rioting and not merely protesting I applaud them.

But, would you save say Hitler? Valuing human life is a good guiding principle but sometimes one has to be pragmatic about it and realise that some people have some horrible ideas that it is better to let them die.