With great power comes great responsibility
The life and thoughts of an Israeli soldier serving in a field unit in the Israel Defense Forces
This post actually relates to an event that took place more than a year ago, soon after I was drafted to the IDF and began my mandatory service.
You see, as a kid, I've always been such a big fan of action films, especially the ones with the big explosions. And what's exactly the essence of action movies (beside the tough hero and the beautiful girl...)? That's right - guns. Big guns.
I mean, pretty much all of the kids worldwide are really enthusiastic about guns - they buy gun-like toys, they play outdoors pretending they shoot one another (while making funny noises), watch action films and playing video games. I was no different.
When I was 14, I remember having this conversation with my grandfather. "When I'll be in the army I’ll fight all of the bad guys and let'em have it!" I said. I remember imagining myself jumping and shooting at the battlefield, completely unaware of danger and not even acknowledging the feeling of fear. "I wish we won't need the army when it's time for you to join it" he answered. Classic answer...
Few years went by, I turned 18, finished high school, and it was my time. Soon after we began the basic training, they told us that we're going to get guns - M16 automatic assault rifles. And although I already wasn't as excited about it as I was at the age of 14, I couldn't believe what I felt as my commander took the rifle from the armory guy and gave it to me: I was completely shocked and my stomach rolled over.
Strange uh? It was definitely strange to me. Only then I realized what it means to hold a weapon - a tool with the terrible power to take a human's life. "With great power comes great responsibility" said Uncle Ben to Spiderman, and I felt like these words were meant for me.
Kids might see guns and other weapons as "cool", and to be honest- they are pretty cool! I still love action films and I'm still excited when I get to shoot from a new weapons. But there's also the other side of the coin. These guns remind us of the constant struggle against the forces of evil, the constant struggle to defend our families and our people. And that’s not cool at all. That’s frightening. Frightening, but mandatory. No questions about it.
Yours,
Yoav B
- Click here to read Yoav's blog
