Journal Section 5

The main idea of this section was Just War Theory.  The just war theory is formed from a desire to fulfill our Prima Facie obligation to be nonviolent and our Absolute obligation for justice.  Just war is the middle ground between these two obligations.  In the Just War Theory a people or nation attempts to remain nonviolent while seeking justice, thus the Prima Facie obligation has some influence in limitting what goes on during war.  However, there are certain dire situations in which the Prima Facie obligation must be overshadowed by the absolute obligation to seek justice and thus violence may be necessary.  Whether a war is just or not is constantly up to debate because many people have different ideas on what makes a Just War.  Catholics define reasons for having a just war under "Jus Ad Bellum," which gives seven criteria for going to war.

The first thing I want to remember is the example set by businessmen Jim Goodnight, Danny Meyer, and Aaron Feuerstein.  In their own unique way each of these three men have been able to construct a successful business by looking out for the best interest of not only their customers but surprisingly their own employees.  Jim Goodnight and Danny Meyer both help to improve the lives of their employees and the communtiy around them and in turn their businesses are flourishing.  Aaron Feuerstein shows a different kind of respect for his employees in the sense that what he has done for them in paying them their full salary while the Malden Mills were closed.  Mr. Feuerstein may have put his company at a huge economic risk but he was not willing to compromise the well-being of his workers.        Secondly, I want to remember the two criteria for how to act during a Just War.  They are called "Jus In Bello."  The first, Discrimination (noncombatant immunity),  states that all noncombatants must be immune from direct attack.  This goes along with the Principle of Respect for Human Life.  The second, Proportionality, states that "the values sought by the use of particular means must outweigh the harm caused by these means."  In other words, the goal that is accomplished must be much more valuable than the damage that is done to accomplish said goal.        Finally,  I want to remember what Vernado Simpson said about what he and many other men in Charlie Company did at My Lie, during the Vietnam War.  Vernado regretted what he did inmmensly.  He had attempted to commit suicide several times.  When talking about the things he did, documented in a photo album he said, "This is my life.  Even if I don't open a book I see this.  In my nightmares.  It's still there if I never open this book."  He was scared and even physically distraught by what he had done and witnessed being done.  I want to remember his message about war.  He said that people began killing in all sorts of ways.  "That's reality. That's what war is."

How can good men be turned into monsters, killers, rapists, and murderers?  If I were in the same situation as Vernado Simpson and I had been programmed to kill would I be able to see the right course of action like Hugh Thompson did? I hope that I would do the right thing, but I honestly can't say for sure because I wasn't there and I don't think that I can fully grasp what the situation was like.

In order to improve myself through the study of this section I think that I need to take to heart that in life there are some very tough situations.  Hopefully I won't have to face anything like what Vernado Simpson had to face.  But if I do, I need to have a strong, unwavering set of moral standards so that I don't let any sort of machine-like programming or carnal instinct take over.

Click Image for source (a good article on the atrocities of  The Vietnam War)