Are Morals Be Suspended During War?

"I'll treat people nicer. In Iraq, I would meet people, and the next day they wouldn't be there,” quoted Army Reserve Major Alicea.

"I talk to a lot of the guys, and it's hard for us to adapt. The noises scare us. The nightmares we have problems with. We have anger issues. For me, it's hard to hold a job. It's hard on your family. My dad says he can look into a GI's eyes, and he can tell who's been over there," stated Army Reserve Sergeant Christensen.

Both Major Alicea and Sergeant Christensen served in the Iraq War. Their statements above are from a compilation of quotes, stated by soldiers, in an article conducted by The Washington Post. These quotes give an insight into the lives’ of soldiers during and after war. The quotes have a depth in them that not everyone can fully comprehend. It would be a lie for people, other than soldiers, to admit to feeling the way these soldiers feel every single day.

Personal principles exist in war. There’s no way it could not exist, especially in an environment as cruel, painful, and disheartening as war. Every single person has a moral compass. It doesn’t matter which way it is pointing or whether or not the person will admit they have one, it is there. Everyone has a sense of what is right and what is wrong. So the question isn’t whether or not personal principles exist in war, it is whether or not to suspend one’s personal morals in a situation such as war.

The answer to the question stated above is complicated and complex because there are extenuating circumstances in every situation. Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, would most likely state the fact he would not suspend his personal morals in war. Corporal Dunham was killed in Iraq in April of 2004. Dunha...

... middle of paper ...

... suspended their personal morals in order to do what they had to do.

All of these examples show how personal principles exist in war. There is no way of avoiding feelings. There is no way of setting aside right and wrong. But even though one’s conscious speaks, doesn’t mean one always listens. Sometimes one does listen and the reward is remarkable. But other times, one doesn’t listen and a price is paid. The point is this; though sometimes personal morals should be suspended in war, to result in greater good, morals cannot always be turned on and turned off with a simple click. Some have the ability to contemplate quickly and decide what to do in a hostile environment, but others do not. The problem is not whether morals should be suspended; the problem is the consequence of suspending or not suspending morals, and sadly, there is a price that is paid for both.