"I was a fascist when Mussolini was on top, and I am an anti-fascist now that he has been deposed. I was fanatically pro-German when the Germans were here to protect us against the Americans, and now that the Americans are here to protect us against the Germans I am fanatically pro-American. " pg. 245, Old Man
"You must never let them change your values. Ideals are good, but people are sometimes not so good. You must try to look up at the big picture." pg. 445
These two quotes show two sides to an arguement; is it best to give up your values for self-preservation, or should you always stick to your guns, no matter what the situation is? I think it is obvious what the answer should be; everyone should stick to their morals, backing them up no matter what. However, the selfish, sometimes more highly chosen side is to give up ideals in order to stay afloat. As awesome as it is to stand by morals, this book definately has things working out better for the Old Man who changes loyalties that for the Americans who stick by their ideals.
Nately says "Anything worth living for, is worth dying for"
The old man, however, says "Anything worth dying for, is worth living for."
They both have good points. Why die for something just because you care about it? I think the answer we want is that if we didn't care about things enough to die for them, where would we be? This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from a source that I really don't remember right now:
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"
id have to side with the old man honestly. why stand for a country that treats its soldiers like replaceable parts. the old man isnt forsaking anything he jus has come to accept that all morals die, change or end up contradicting themselves. no use dying for something that in a hundred years wont matter or even scratch history
ReplyDeleteI think Heller's point in this argument is to show that while everyone wants to be the good guy who stands up for what he believes in, only those who "fall for anything" get ahead. I don't know if he's taking a side, but I think he's saying that we really only have two options in life: self-preservation or heroism.
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