What's the difference between a soldier, an assassin, and a mercenary?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Letum

That would make me responsible for road accidents in Croatia because I
haven't devoted my life to a road safety campaign there.
I could do that and it would save lives, but I haven't, even tho I know about it.

There is a infinite number of other things I haven't done that would prevent
murders, deaths, crime etc.

You might argue that I am only responsible if I fail to act to prevent a bad
deed that happens near to me, but that seams a little arbitrary.

there are reglious psotions that indeed see it like this. Or at least neutrally point out respnsibility, if not speaking of guilt.

Karma, for example.

Living is living in an endless context.

And we all live at the cost of people working their a$$ and lives off in the third world to make sure we get our cup of coffee in the morning, and that diamond in our golden ring.

These contexts cannot be escaped. That may be the reason why some religions speak of the need to not only stay away from doing harm, but to actively purify ourselves from the echoes of past negatives (by any form of superstitious technique or practice, for example).

Or consider another perspective. Many of you guys vote, and the leaders you voted for have allowed some for of military action or not, which may have been justified to prevent a bigger evil, or not. You helped to bring the decision makers into a psoition where they could make that decision. You share your individual ammount of responsibility.

Uncomfortable, isn't it. But who said that karma is gentle? Action, and reaction. Deciding, sending your choice into the world, causing consequences that return. That's what it is about. You can't escape it. And that is the ultimate justice. It's not about sin, it is about consequence. It is not about guilt, it is about responsibility.