are you a traitor if you do what you beleive is moral?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060815/pl_afp/usiraqprisoners_060815212229

Answer 1

I was in the military and it is part of your duty to actually disobey and question authority when you KNOW it is immoral behavior. So, NO he is not a traitor and YES it was moral behavior... absolutely.

Answer 2

Morality is in the eye of the beholder, and the truth in their heart.
We must always remember that the only morality we have, is that which we believe to be truth, not someone Else's idea to be truth.

For example, If I am blind, and was raised to believe that sight was the way of wickedness, then it would be immoral of me to have surgery to restore, or give me sight.

Am I a traitor to the medicines because I insist that it is evil?
Judge not that you be not judged, for how you judge, so will you be judged.

Any time we allow an injustice to continue, we, by a show of doing nothing, silently agree that it is OK, or right.
Morals is as morals does.

Answer 3

Depends. In any society people who step over the line drawn by their government risk being punished for it.

If I drive 57 MPH in a 30 MPH zone I may get a speeding ticket. There may have been a 'moral' reason for my going 57, but the cop and judge may not think it's OK for me to speed.

If I divulge state secrets to the enemy in time of war because I don't like the war, I may be charged with treason.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Answer 4

Thats a relative question. He was a traitor to the soldiers he blew a whistle on regardless of what is right and wrong or "moral". I am not saying that he should not have. He certainly wasn't a traitor to himself. Many people would believe that he was not a traitor to his country. Yet again the term is relative to who you ask. Me personally? He is right in doing what he felt was right.

Answer 5

Richard Sauder wrote shortly after the events of 911 that "we are participating in a Black Magic show … every last person on this planet is being sucked into this thing and we need to understand that and deal with it."

http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/sauder.htm

So, how have people 'dealt with it'? Many Americans still slumber on in denial, oblivious to the precariousness of their situation or else resigned to it like the musicians who played on while the Titanic sank ever deeper in the cold, black waters of the North Atlantic. Others, a few individuals, have chosen to follow Richard Sauder's advice from the article that introduces this 'diatribe' – "Do not participate in the warfare. If you find yourself in the military, consider leaving as soon as practicable". With what we now know about depleted uranium poisoning the Iraqi environment and even that of its pseudo-enemy in this Black Majic show, Israel, his advice is apt, indeed. We should cheer and support the decision of U.S. Army Lieutenant Ehren Watada to disobey an order and not return to an illegal war.

"At the June 7 press conference announcing his decision, Watada argued that the Administration's invasion and occupation of Iraq was "manifestly illegal" because it "violates our democratic system of checks and balances. It usurps international treaties and conventions that by virtue of the Constitution become American law. Watada also said, "As the order to take part in an illegal act is ultimately unlawful as well, I must as an officer of honor and integrity refuse that order."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060717/brechersmith

Obviously, when Bush declared, "You're either with us or against us," something in this man's heart was listening. The illusion of the Black Majic show holds no sway over his vision of humanity and the rule of law among men and women, co-equal creators of the society we purport to live in. Nor should we conclude that this show is about Republican politics alone. Many writers more prolific and better-lettered than I am have pointed out the true nature of the right and left wings of the One War American Party. When Jonathan Tasine announced his candidacy in New York and challenged Senator Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary we learned where her values were/are – she's apparently in the "you're with us" camp of Zionist-handled politicians who 'profit' from war-mongering (the opposite of 'right livelihood' as defined in Buddhism).

Answer 6

IN response, I think he is a patriot. Ask the same question if that same stuff happened in US...the fact that it happened to Iraqis is no different. Humiliating the Iraqis like that was 1. not productive, 2. why are you taking pictures? are you keeping them as trophies?

He is upholding the law we have in the US....laws that we think are neccessary between human beings, not just Americans.

3rdly, he handed them to military investigators, not directly to the press.

Answer 7

NO!! but if what you believe is moral goes against what your country believes is moral then some people will call you traitor. but don't let it bother you!! stand up for what you believe is right and humane.

Answer 8

Depends on what you value more. Being true to yourself and your values you espouse. and your life. Damn the irony in this statement. Most importantly, the extent you can practise or exert your values/opinions without being charged for it.

Answer 9

No. I am proud of him...as most of us are. The whole incident is an outrage. If it were up to me, I would throw everyone involved out of the country.

Answer 10

In that particular case, I don't believe so.