Morality Question - Take 2 - Open to all.....................?

Question

A little wordy, but only because I want the relevant points to be clear. If you have the mental stamina, bear with me...

You and your wife were walking down an alley and suddenly a madman grabbed your wife and threw her in a ditch. The madman then stands above the ditch, and using A DIFFERENT lady as a human shield (one whom the madman would not kill on his own), is preparing to shoot your wife (who he wishes to kill for whatever crazy reason).

You have a gun. You can try to shoot the madman, but may end up also killing the human-sheild-lady in the process.

Choice:
Try to shoot the madman, with the risk of shooting the other lady too
Or
Let the madman shoot your wife.


Which would you choose? Would you fault someone for choosing otherwise?

***And what do you think about the Israel-Hezbollah-Lebanon crisis?***




Please keep answers short (~40 lines).
Peace

Answer 1

NamesAreMuch...,
Given the situation you created, I would have to shoot the madman. That would risk the shields life, but my wife would have to remain unscathed.

The Israeli's are doing what is right, while being blamed for the destruction that Lebanon brought on itself.

Answer 2

I still don't know enough to give a definitive answer, but I would say it's an impossible situation. Your loyalties and most of your fondest memories would be most strongly associated with your wife, so your instinct would be to protect your wife at all costs, even if it meant your own safety or even your life. As a man you would also feel a human sense of chivalry to want to protect the other woman, no matter who she was. When you say a "madman" I assume you mean that this person doesn't care about the consequences to himself, he just wants to do what he wants to do. I assume you mean the man won't listen to a calm, reasonable voice. I assume he is unable at the present time to recognize that the people he is contending with are also children of God and equal to himself in value in the eyes of God. I assume that he is operating out of a terrible rush of adrenalin associated with having the power (so he thinks) to make some kind of difference in the world by taking the power over life and death - which should belong to God or nature, if you will - and trying to impose his will on others. The question is - what can you do - as an immediate solution - outside of throwing yourself on top of your wife and positioning yourself in such a way to defend yourself against what will no doubt be an imminent attack? Well, if God used to fight Israel's battles, it is back to relying on God. The other option is to call in a peacemaker - one who the madman recognizes and will respect, even temporarily. The question is - who are the peacemakers? Perhaps they are still very young and cannot be called in yet. Perhaps they are still in training. I know there is a group called Children of Abraham where young teens from different world religions learn to talk to each other and become friends. It may be that organizations based on kindness like that one need major support to become a stronger force, stronger than the United Nations or any "grown-up" external force. But again, I don't know enough to provide a definitive answer to the Israel-Lebanon crisis.
P.S. You need to contact me if you want an answer to your other question as to why I am interested in Judaism. I worked for a year in a Jewish school in Utah, if that helps, although it was years ago.

Answer 3

My responsibility is my wife. I try to shoot the madman. Perhaps I kill him only. But maybe I hit the woman. The point is that I'm saving my wife, which is my responsibility. It is the woman's responsibility to try to get away from the madman as best she can. Is she held against her will? Or is she aiding the madman, knowing I won't shoot? I don't know. all I know is that my wife is in danger and I'm going in shooting.

Answer 4

Since we honestly have no real way of knowing that the madman would not kill the lady that he is using as a shield (whats the point of using her as a shield.. he must see her as expendable) it would be in your best interest to take out the madman by any means possible.

Answer 5

The analogy you are using is too obvious.

Of course you are talking about the Israel - Hezbollah conflict.

The Hezbollah are the crazy killers who are hiding behind innocent civilians as they launch their rockets of death.

I would pray and hope any person who isn't blinded by Muslim lies, would naturally side with Israel fighting against the terrorists who started the war.

For more insight into what is going on in the world right now, please read Revelation chapter 12.

Israel is the woman. Jesus Christ is the child that was born. You should be able to figure out the rest.

Guess who is really behind the hatred of the Jews and the Christians?

Answer 6

It's one thing to try to shoot the madman. It's quite another to open up with a 50 caliber machine gun and spray them both with 500 rounds....

The latter approach seems to be what Israel is doing to Lebanon.

Answer 7

Id get between the madman and the women and shoot him. Id rather myself hurt than the lady's

Answer 8

Shoot at the madman. Point taken. I already supported Israel!

Answer 9

the correct answer is.....(drum role)

You step in between the gunman and your wife(husband in my case) and take the shot for your signifigant other.

There are all types of possibilities after this (ie--if you survive, you can shoot him if you have a shot, maybe he let go of the woman/is running away).


But, overall, you sacrifice yourself for both the stranger and your wife/husband.


((( as for the war. I pray that all people on both sides stay safe and are protected. And feel awful for the civilians in Lebanon and Isreal. Isreal has a right to defend against all the terrorism and hate that has been attacking if for years, but the Lebanese have a right to protect thier civilians as well. The real menace in that triad is Hezbolla, the terrorist organization that can be blamed for all the violence. But, you cannont blame the countries who are just defending themselves and thier civilians)))

Answer 10

I'd shoot the madman. Also, I am an excellent shot.