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| An anonymous pol... | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 13 2006, 12:04 PM (450 Views) | |
| ***musical princess*** | Jun 13 2006, 12:04 PM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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6th June, 1944 You arrive at Omaha Beach about to embark on a dangerous, most probably fatal invasion. Facing adverse weather conditions and with 27 of your 32 amphibious Sherman DD Tanks already lost at sea, you know the odds don't look good. Fogbanks and smoke from artillery fire have created low visibility on the beach, and you can only barely make out the cliffs ahead. Your infantries carefully planned assault waves have turned into chaos as wind, waves, and current have scattered most of the landing craft far from their assigned targets. You are tired and seasick, weighed down by wet and sand-filled gear, and find it almost impossible to move across the open sand. You infantry is taking heavy casualities. The low tide and esposure has damn near finished off every man in your team as they suffered at the heavy handed enemy MG42 fire. You are one of few remaining. To your left, an explosion. The screams of agony echo in your earsover the sound of unceasing fire. You look over and see you Captain, his right leg blown off, his left arm in shreads and with heavy bleeding to his torso. You are still far from your safe final destinationand the chances of you alone reaching there are slim while under such heavy assault. Your captain is screaming for your help. You know he wont make it. But he is still alive and in alot of pain. My question... Do you try and drag your Captain to safety at the risk of your own life? Or do you abandon him in the hope you may yourself reach safety. This pol is completey anonymous so you don't have to worry about people judging you. Look into your heart and answer honestly... Would you risk your own life to save him? x |
| x Caroline x | |
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| Dewey | Jun 13 2006, 12:10 PM Post #2 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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The answer to an either/or question cannot be yes or no... edit - never mind; I need to read more closely! |
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"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685. "Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous "Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011 I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14 | |
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| ***musical princess*** | Jun 13 2006, 12:11 PM Post #3 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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(After a PM, i have changed it from Captain to felow Private. I have been reliably informed (or rather scolded ) for suggesting my Captain would ask me to save him.So instead, imagine it is one of your fellow soldiers. x |
| x Caroline x | |
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| Friday | Jun 13 2006, 12:11 PM Post #4 |
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Senior Carp
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I don't think I could live with mysef knowing that my captian was asking for help and I ignored him. And I would take comfort in not dying alone. edit: okay, even more so for a fellow private. |
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| ***musical princess*** | Jun 13 2006, 12:11 PM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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(The last question is the one i'm asking,.... ) (edit - :lol: You got your edit in before me. )x |
| x Caroline x | |
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| lb1 | Jun 13 2006, 12:55 PM Post #6 |
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Fulla-Carp
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The Captain/Private is a handicap at this point to you completing your mission. If it was a simple matter of your life or theirs, then go to their aid. There is a reason you are on that beach, if you are one of the few left to carry on, your responsibility to do so is greater now. lb |
| My position is simple: you jumped to an unwarranted conclusion and slung mud on an issue where none was deserved. Quirt 03/08/09 | |
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| John D'Oh | Jun 13 2006, 01:05 PM Post #7 |
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MAMIL
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I honestly haven't got a clue what I'd do. Unless you've been in this kind of situation, I don't think you can tell how you'd react. |
| What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket? | |
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| bachophile | Jun 13 2006, 01:05 PM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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i have trained heavily in military mass causulty triage, and i have taken care of quite a few in the field. a cardinal rule, never waste resources on mortal wounds. u ignore the light and most seriously injured and concentrate saving the few who can make it. this is counterintuitive because the reflex reaction of everyone is to jump on the most seriouslly wounded. that may be true in controlled hospital environment but never in the field. in the scenario described, with massive hemmorage from the torso, the chance of survival is dismal. so the "correct" medical answer is dont risk your life for a 95% chance of another death. nontheless i recognize that we all dont play according to strict triage rules and their will be noble souls who will sacrifice all to save another. and this simply reflects that sometimes it takes war to bring out the most noble of spirit. and this is something to be grateful for and remember that we r created in the image of God. |
| "I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen | |
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| apple | Jun 13 2006, 01:18 PM Post #9 |
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one of the angels
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you said that so beautifully bach of course i agree |
| it behooves me to behold | |
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| ***musical princess*** | Jun 13 2006, 01:19 PM Post #10 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I agree apple, very good post x |
| x Caroline x | |
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| Dewey | Jun 13 2006, 01:23 PM Post #11 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I wonder how many men have tortured themselves mentally for the rest of their lives after being in this exact situation, and not trying to help their friend. Given that, out of the extreme probability of the friend's inevitable death, the sense of continuing the mission, and most of all, the desire to protect my own skin, I'd probably have gone on myself, I wonder if I'd beat myself up over the decision, too. I hope I'm never in the position to find out, and I empathize with all those who have had to, regardless of which way they chose to go. |
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"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685. "Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous "Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011 I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14 | |
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| Jolly | Jun 13 2006, 01:24 PM Post #12 |
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Geaux Tigers!
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On Omaha beach, just being introduced to combat, there are some people who might attempt to "save" their fellow soldier. I doubt you'd have many takers after a day or two. |
| The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros | |
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| John D'Oh | Jun 13 2006, 01:31 PM Post #13 |
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MAMIL
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I agree. Those who left the beaches were very different people from the ones that jumped out of the landing craft. |
| What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket? | |
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| Kincaid | Jun 13 2006, 02:30 PM Post #14 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Exactly my position. Except I wouldn't know if I could do it. I can barely turn around on a high up ladder for fear of falling. (Edit) I voted no. While I would probably be more likely to risk my life to save someone rather than charge into enemy fire, my mission is to take the beach, not to save someone that is wounded. |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
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| OperaTenor | Jun 13 2006, 03:32 PM Post #15 |
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Pisa-Carp
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My training taught me to look after my fellow crew members, because we could only accomplish the mission as a team(yes, it's a different scenario, but the concept of teamwork in combat still applies). I would endeavor to carry him to safety and make the landing, or die trying. Where there's life, there's hope. |
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| Riley | Jun 13 2006, 03:56 PM Post #16 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yeah. I haven't a clue how I would react. I'd like to say I'd help him, but I don't know. I'd have to actually be in the situation. |
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| Horace | Jun 13 2006, 04:38 PM Post #17 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I disagree. I think war highlights the insanity and fundamental sociopathy of the human condition. It is so easy to get people to kill other people for no reason other than that they're wearing the wrong uniform. Our "nobility" towards those in the same uniform as we have is offset by our monstrousness towards the ones wearing the wrong colors. And before anybody justifies this in the name of bad vs good or right vs wrong, consider that neither side ever has any problem finding young men willing to go fight for the cause. I suspect there would be no lack of "nobility" amongst the young german men fighting together in WW2. |
| As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good? | |
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| John D'Oh | Jun 13 2006, 04:41 PM Post #18 |
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MAMIL
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What Horace said. |
| What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket? | |
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| LWpianistin | Jun 13 2006, 08:43 PM Post #19 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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What he said. I can't say. |
| And how are you today? | |
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| bachophile | Jun 13 2006, 09:03 PM Post #20 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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maybe war is sociopathic from a political point of view, but on the individual level, men at war can fight the political cause, yet maintain their humanity. also towards an enemy. yes it sounds like cliche sayings. but when bullets are flying and your very existence is on the line, some will behave different then others. and you r correct, im sure that among germans or whoever the "enemy" may be, u will find acts noble in spirit. and acts that are barbaric. in battle, your behavior is ultimately up to u. how u behave and act, is something u live with all your life. |
| "I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen | |
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| Jolly | Jun 14 2006, 08:01 AM Post #21 |
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Geaux Tigers!
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In the book Band of Brothers there is an interesting story about one of the Airborne members taking the time to stop and talk with a group of German POWs. He offered them cigarettes and a light, a bit of chocolate. He shot them all, just before walking away. |
| The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros | |
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) for suggesting my Captain would ask me to save him.

10:39 PM Jul 12