student looking for a bit of advice

[al_aaraaf]

hi there - I've been poking around in various LJ social science communities for a while now, trying to figure out what I want to do for grad school. anthropology is tempting me right now

Comments

[wagrobanite]

I don't know about those two (But I'm excited to you that you know about Heifer Project)but I know that Forensic Anthropologists have worked for the UN for helping with genocide and war crimes.

[al_aaraaf]

heh, Heifer is great - more than a few times it's been "well, I didn't know what to get you for christmas so a ukrainian widow got a flock of geese instead" (Heifer's HQ is also in my home town...they've got a great big new eco-friendly building and generally rock)

while I doubt I'd have the stomach for genocide investigations (and I'd have moral qualms about being in any way involved with the military or the death penalty) that's definitely a step in the right direction. hrm...

[jen92373]

I am currently studying forensic anthro. Your job would be to identify the dead so that their families could have closure. You might be asked to testify in court as to HOW you identified the bodies and how they were killed, but that would be for civilian authorities. The military (I have also been an army reservist for nearly ten years) does not do that. However, even if they did, there is never anything immoral about helping the proper authority seek justice for murder victims.

[al_aaraaf]

However, even if they did, there is never anything immoral about helping the proper authority seek justice for murder victims.

I'm a pacifist and don't believe in retributive "justice". to be frank, one of the main reasons I'm interested in a career that would allow me to travel internationally is so I can find a country where my taxes would not support a military whose existence (as an institution) I find morally repulsive.

I commend you for a spirit of service, but do not for a moment agree that coercive, violent force is ever morally justifiable. please understand I'm not trying to insult or devalue you as a person - this is an ethical and religious conviction of mine.

if you'd like to discuss it, we can, but I'm not sure this is the appropriate place.

[jen92373]

This isn't the appropriate place, but even if it were it's pretty obvious we are at an impasse. I am willing to use force if necessary to right wrongs and protect other people, and you draw a line before that. It is what it is and further discussion would be pointless.

Good luck with your studies.

[al_aaraaf]

thanks, you too =)

[mallyns]

country where my taxes would not support a military whose existence (as an institution) I find morally repulsive

LOL! That is never going to happen. Time to take off the rose colour glasses and learn how the world works, is what I say.

Talk to your guidance consular.

[al_aaraaf]

as I an Jen said earlier, this is not the appropriate arena to discuss this further. If you have anything relevant to the original topic to add, please feel free.

[mallyns]

Talk to your guidance consular.

I did add, you just didn't see that part see first line. And what you (or Jen)thinks is not appropriate doesn't mean I agree with you (or her).

I'm a different person, and I say what I want to say.