Today in class

Our assignment was to come up with different situations that would involve tough choices. One of the situations that was brought up: what if you were in a foreign land and captured by someone/group, and to return home (they promise that you’ll be safe), you are to kill someone. Would you do it?

I was the first one to answer the question. I said yes, I would because in that situation, my mentality becomes: I need to survive and go home to my family. Some people said that they wouldn’t kill anyone, because I suppose that they don’t have the guts to do it or they don’t think it’s right.

Well, it’s also not morally right to hold someone captive and force them to commit a crime, but it happens. I’m not saying that it’s right to kill someone or commit a crime, but sometimes, we are put in certain situations where we have to make a decision without knowing any facts or the consequences. We make decisions that can lead to endangering our lives and/or other people’s.

An element is added to the situation: You would only know who you need to kill, if you agree to do it. Of course, the family/friend card was used. What if the person you have to kill is a family member or a friend? Would you still do it?

My answer is still the same, and the reaction that I got in class was quite amusing. I would say that most were surprised that I would kill someone who’s close to me, so I can return home. At this point, all I’m thinking about is that I have to survive. I don’t want to die, even if I’ll eventually die. I also mentioned that death is part of life. I accept and move on.

A girl, who was 2 people after me, answered that she still wouldn’t; that she would rather suffer with their loved one. She also mentioned that death being natural doesn’t have to do with the situation, because we’re asked to commit murder. I didn’t mean for it to relate to the situation; I was only letting everyone know that I know that death is inevitable, it always comes sooner than you think.

My prof said something to the girl that I don’t recall, but it just reminded me of Game of Thrones. That episode where Cersei says, “When you play a game of thrones you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” You survive or you don’t. 

And that made me think of another element to the situation: If I disagreed to kill someone, would I get killed? What if it turns out that my loved one is also holding a gun and is ready to pull the trigger? Would I let him/her kill me or fight to live?

Ultimately, I don’t know what I would actually do if I was put in that situation.