A paradox

[tooblue]

“Here’s your fatigues, boots, pack and a helmet.”

Do I get a rifle, I think I need a rifle—an M4A1 maybe?

“Yes, you need a rifle, but you do not have the right to have a rifle.”

I need a rifle, but I don’t have a right to have a rifle?

“No.”

So, you’re training me to defend the country and how to kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary, but I don’t get a rifle because though I need it, I don’t have a right to it?

“Exactly. You chose to join the military and while I agree you need a rifle to defend the country and to kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary, you don’t have a right to a rifle.”

But I didn’t choose to join the military. I was conscripted …

“Regardless, though you need a rifle, you do not have the right to one …”

… can I at least have a knife?

“A knife could be handy, but no, you don’t have a right to have a knife either.”

How then am I going defend the country and kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary?

“Here are some raw materials, research, texts and even the diagrams necessary to build the weapons you need.”

Uh, OK, great, I guess. Where and how can I get started?

“Well, we have a machine shop in which you can work, and all the tools required to make the weapons, so that should be sufficient if you apply yourself—you’re not a afraid of a little hard work are you?”

No, but can you provide help in the form of training, teaching and how to process the raw materials, do the research, understand the texts and read the diagrams?

“How much money do you have?”

Only what you are paying me—you are paying me correct?

“Unfortunately, what we pay is not enough to cover the cost of training, teaching, how to process the raw materials, do the research, understand the texts and read the diagrams and also train you how to be a soldier.”

A soldier without the weapons he needs to defend the country and kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary (said sarcastically but pointedly).

“The sanctimony is not appreciated. While I can see and understand your need, unfortunately you don’t have the right to a rifle or a knife. Besides, you should be grateful we have provided you with what is required to make the weapons you need—in fact you should consider yourself blessed.”

Well then, I guess I better get to work—how much time did you say I have?

“You ship out tomorrow. Good luck.”

[tooblue]

Wait, do you have a rifle?

“Yes, an M4A1.”

Can I borrow it and use it?

“No. I earned the right to have a rifle, you did not.”

So, you processed the raw materials, did the research, learned how to understand the texts and read the diagrams, and then built your own rifle?

“This isn’t about me. You should get to work.”

I don’t understand: how did you earn the right to have a rifle?

“I was trained to be a soldier and earned my rank through hard work and perseverance.”

Obviously, so you did process the raw materials, do the research, learn how to understand the texts and read the diagrams, and build your own rifle?

“I too was conscripted and I have earned everything I’ve got.”

That’s not my question. How precisely did you earn the right to have a rifle which you need to defend the country and kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary?

“Listen, I have acknowledged your need to have a rifle, but you do not have a right to have a rifle. This is your issue and not my concern.”

I just want to understand: how can I earn the right to have a rifle which I will need to defend the country and kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary?

“You need to get to work.”

… learning how to process the raw materials, do the research, understand the texts and read the diagrams, and build my own rifle like you did (said with an air of incredulity)?

“Again, this isn’t about me …”

Then you did not process the raw materi…

“Careful soldier, insubordination is a punishable offense (said forcefully, but definitely NOT sanctimoniously).”

I am not disobeying orders or questioning your hard work, perseverance and the fact you have earned everything you’ve got. That is obvious to me. Like you, I just want to earn the right to have a rifle which I will need to defend the country and kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary?

“ …”

So, you are saying you were conscripted under different, perhaps more favourable circumstances?

“That’s enough soldier. Dismissed.”

[tooblue]

“Ten hut.”

A soldier stands at the ready.

“Report.”

I’ve been defending the country.

“Where’s your weapon?”

The soldier shows the wrench in his hand.

“What the *blank* is that?”

My weapon.

“That’s not a weapon. Where’d you get it?”

We’ve been over this. Though you identified that I need a rifle to defend the country in order to kill efficiently and effectively, when necessary, you declared that I do not have the right to have one. I’d show you a knife, but you also declared I do not have the right to have one.

“We provided you the means to make the weapons you need—you squandered those resources?”

No, in the time provided, I repurposed them.

“ … “

Even if I were capable of processing the raw materials, doing the research, understanding the texts and reading the diagrams to build my own rifle it was not guaranteed that I would earn the right to have the rifle because, though you have a rifle, the circumstances of your conscription entitled you to it … And, well, the circumstances of our conscriptions are evidently very different.

“Did you take that wrench from the machine shop?”

Yes, in haste to report to my post.

“Guards, arrest this soldier (shouted with disdain).”