DD, my x-father-in-law was in the Hitler Youth. It also was presented as being like the Boy Scouts, lots of fun, until they stuck a rifle in his hands around 1945, and told him to shoot Russians, not so much fun, that's when he took off like shot.

Dear Dan,

«But you did reference Putin’s childhood into your passivisic (my conjugation), argument against conscription.»

I was just wondering, how can anyone be so cruel, so insensitive without even being aware of it. Putin is presently a well-known example.

Perhaps you question the degree of cruelty and insensitivity in the act of conscription, but I have no such questions because I am a victim of it myself. It is my deepest wish, which I would be happy to die for, that no one else will ever again have to experience that.

«I didn’t get the impression from individuals post he was advocating for collective violence»

Possibly he is so thick-skinned that he does not realise the violence and the suffering of those affected, but then reading of the reports from Bucha, some don't even get the violence of pulling people's tongues out.

«it was more an idea to improve our society by introducing youth regimentation»

There is a tradition telling that when a stranger came to the Biblical city of Sodom, he was put in a given bed. If he was too tall, his legs were shortened. If he was too short, his limbs were stretched to fit.

This is how I read "regimentation".

You have read your Bible, so surely you know that God was not too happy with that state of affairs.

«My exasperated response “You’ve got a stop this Yuyutsu“ was directed to your pacifist dogmatism.»

A pacifist dogmatist tries to stop others from fighting (sometimes even using violence themselves for that non-violence purpose). I am not like that. While it is not in my own nature, I will not stop those whose natural propensities are to fight from fighting, so long as they do so honourably.

«you need to take an a look at aggression in a more positive light.»

You mean clapping and cheering the Russian soldiers as they march in to torture and rape civilians?

[continued...]

[...continued]

«The idea of National service is to capture natural youthful aggression and channel it into positive directions of character building.»

While breaking the spirits of those who have no aggression to begin with or whose aggression has already been directed into useful projects, who are happy, cheerful, positive, friendly, polite, productive and devout, whose character is already built or in the process of being built in their present positive environment? By violently tearing them away from good company and forcing them to live and rot in the company of riff-raff instead?

«Those Russian boys will learn from their transgression from the macho in the moment.»

Transgression? They didn't even know where they were taken!

«We are all captive to the system. There is always somebody above us in rank, pulling the strings and making us dance to off tune music.»

Have you forgotten that One who is always above all ranks and all tyrants, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whose Justice always prevails?

"Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
...
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked."
[Psalm 146:3-4,7-9]

Yuyutsu

To clarify my statement referencing Russian Boys.

Here is a reality. All boys, Hitler included if you will, begin life from their Mothers womb.

*… The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun, says the Preacher…*

Why do we ascribe right and wrong to any particular action? You are not a fatalist Yuyutsu. Why do you consider your views as anymore worthwhile than those of others?

Dan.

Dear Dan,

«All boys, Hitler included if you will, begin life from their Mothers womb.»

Thank you for clarifying.

«Why do we ascribe right and wrong to any particular action?»

That's called being human...

I would need to provide at least two different answers to your question, one for believers another for those who don't.

For believers:

Certain actions are beloved of God, thus attract His blessings, so we call them "right". Other actions are hated by God, thus attract His rage, so we call them "wrong".

For advanced believers:

Certain actions help to purify our hearts and minds, making them more ready to accept God, so we call them "right". Other actions contaminate our hearts and minds, thus draw us away from God, so we call them "wrong".

For non-believers:

We humans, with the exception of the wisest, are too attached to strong preferences, liking this, hating that. As a result, our joys are short-lived and instead we suffer when our preferences are not met.

A Saint, a holy man, the Wise, or however else you like to call him, doesn't do so, but accepts everything equally as God's gift¹ - shine or rain, illness or health, pleasure or pain, fame or ill-fame, etc.: that makes them always happy and never suffer.

So since the majority of us are not saints and depend on particular conditions for our happiness, and since the conditions we experience depend on our former actions, we call those actions "right" which are likely to maximise favourable conditions for as many people and we call those actions "wrong" that would maximise unfavourable conditions and suffering.

«Why do you consider your views as anymore worthwhile than those of others?»

Only because I was fortunate to have had relatively more opportunity and time than most others to study and contemplate.

---

¹ Note that this does not speak of God's existence or anything similar which a non-believer cannot accept, but only of the mental attitude taken by the wise/holy man.

Yuyutsu

«All boys, Hitler included if you will, begin life from their Mothers womb“

Further meaning:

All boys are boys, irrespective of who’s side of the fence they belong..
That’s the real equality view!

Extension of that meaning:

All boys feel the same pain when shot. It ain’t nice!

Conclusion:

Our Government which raises rainbow flags through all its institutions, is incorrect to pick sides between the US viz Ukraine, (which is wrong in this instance), and Russia, IMO.

Russia simply wants the return of its natural territory. Afterall, isn’t our government hell bent on giving the entirety of Australia back to the Aboriginals, and that with a “sorry” as a prefix?

(And frankly, with your preaching on these pages over the years, I’m astonished that you choose any side in this issue Yuyutsu)!

Dan.