Suicide in the Name of Honor

North Miami Beach, FL May 28, 2002
A.H. Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED

Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome

SUICIDE IN THE NAME OF HONOR

I have just seen a 50 plus year old movie on the TV. It was about
World War II Marine Dive Bombers. At the time America was fighting the
Japanese in the South Pacific. The picture was about the valor of our airmen
who combated the fighters Japan fielded to cripple our fleet in the Pacific.

Our fighters were good men who flew up into the sky for a few
minutes of combat with fast moving targets that, at this point in the
conflict, were ordered to dive into our warships and blow themselves up in
the effort. Our fighters were ordered to shoot them down before they could
achieve their destiny. The picture made us look good but the effect on me
was to admire the courage and zeal of the Japanese airmen who deliberately
flew into the ships which were desperately and ponderously trying to get out
of the way.

These Japanese fighters were following orders to destroy an enemy
and themselves in the process. They were trying to kill enemy soldiers and
sailors. They were "Kamikaze" or "suicide bombers" and were at war with the
military of the enemy. They were NOT trying to kill innocent civilians.

While they can be lauded for their sense of honor, can they be
equally appreciated for their wisdom in choosing to die for a cause they
were educated to believe was just? Obviously that was a different time. The
Japanese Emperor is no longer considered divine.

We can honor the Kamikaze flier but not his belief in suicide.
The suicide of terrorists who wrap themselves in explosives and choose
ordinary citizens as targets are without sense or honor. Their education is
an anomaly in our age and goes on while the bombing and killing continues.
Despite a world wide lack of understanding and certainly not approval, they
continue. There are those who still applaud the terrorists who die for some
invalid principal. The observers and neutrals who do not condemn the
terrorists and their education also lack honor. Carol's Evaluation: 9 out
of 10.