Journal 9: "Ghost Soldiers"

After reading this chapter, I feel that I have learned a lot about both the idea of remorse and revenge. I have come to the conclusion that seeking revenge is ultimately a waste of time if the circumstances are out of your control and unless it is attainable without much thought. In my own experience, thinking of the ways in which you can get back at someone for hurting you in some way is a pretty good way to have high stress levels and a high level of anger all the time. I find that accepting the circumstances and learning to live with the conditions you are given is a much healthier way to deal with a situation. While I would certainly like to exact revenge on a few people who have wronged me in the worst way imaginable, I refuse to attempt to get this revenge and lose myself in the process. When it comes to the idea of remorse, I have learned through my own personal experience that it is better to deal with situations in a way that you won’t be remorseful for your actions. The sense of guilt that accompanies any immoral actions is almost unbearable in my mind. I cannot do something that I will feel bitter regret for in the future because this guilt eats away at me until I have corrected the immoral situation I have created. I have found that some people have the ability to completely repress any sense of remorse for their own actions. These people are the most dangerous people in the world I have found out. One without remorse is certainly capable of doing anything with no regrets. To be able to repress any sense of remorse is a clear sign of psychological problems and probably requires immediate professional help. The emotions of revenge and remorse are definitive human qualities that I feel are very important and telling about each of us.