The dilemma

18 Comments

Imagine that you exist in the fall of 1940 in an Allied nation. You’ve just read in the newspaper that a National Socialist spy was captured and is being held in a secure prison. They are going to execute them the following day.

This would be joyous news if not for one tiny detail:

The nazi spy is your closest friend, father, mother, sister, or brother.

From day 1 you two have been by each other’s side. Your adventures are so numerous that if they were written down, the world couldn’t contain the books.

The question is : What are you going to do?

Will personal feelings trump your values or your beliefs over your personal feelings?

I would break them out	19
Let them die. There's more at stake here	8

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Comments ( 18 )

NoraBaker

11 years ago

As historical Nora Baker, if I had any shred of doubt that the reason why I myself was in Dachau do be executed was because of them, I'd be torn... But from what I know of her, I'm sure she was ingenious enough to come up with a way to accommodate a choice for personal feelings while safeguarding the nation at the same time. Since all that is a projection of mine, that's my own answer, I suppose. Ha. :)

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- Avant-Garde
  
  11 years ago
  
  There really should be a film made about her. God forbid, if hollywood gets their hands on it! They would certainly ruin it. >_<
  
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squeallikeasacofpigs

11 years ago

You'd think that if they were truly your best friend/relative or whatever that the fact that they were a Nazi spy may have come up some time in conversation...?

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dappled

11 years ago

I think it's difficult to answer this question in that most of us haven't lived through this kind of conflict and are very, very safe in our lives. We have small concerns (that we overinflate) and don't often need to worry about national security. It's a good thing. We're very lucky.

It may be difficult to reconcile this for some but in a World War, my duty is to my country. If the person has been spying against my country and has been caught, I wouldn't interfere. If, however, they have been spying against an Axis country, are caught, and I had a chance of breaking them free (albeit at risk to my own life), then I would do that both for them and for my country.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  You've never been to the Sun but you can get a dim imaginings of it as you understand what "heat" is like. So it is with a war as we understand the baser feelings involved.
  
  But it isn't always true that the knowing of something necessitates the understanding of it.
  
  I think that's the point you were trying to make, yes?
  
  _
  
  For most, my answer would be the same. Duty to nation must always come before personal feelings.
  
  But I'm human and I love one human being very much. If they were the Nazi spy, there's nothing I wouldn't do to ensure their safety.
  
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[Old Memory]

11 years ago

Would you give him a saucer of milk?

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  Only if "Ja" is English for Yes.
  
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  - [Old Memory]
    
    11 years ago
    
    I don't know about any of that.
    
    Here's Tom with the weather.
    
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Avant-Garde

11 years ago

I would put on my disguise and try to save them. But what if while I was trying to save them I ran into my Nazi lover in the fortress? That would be so awkward and I would feel so torn. Torn because on one hand, I wouldn't want my comrade to be executed and on the other, I wouldn't want to betray my lover. Then, if I told my Nazi what it was that I was planning to do and my lover agreed to help me, I'd feel so guilty...

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  Wait...what?
  
  I'm a little confused by your comment, Avante-Garde. Are you saying that you'd want to break out your Nazi friend from prison but would feel guilty for doing so?
  
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  - Avant-Garde
    
    11 years ago
    
    No, sorry. It seems my memories of a time long past got mixed up in your poll... The way I viewed it was that my friend was a spy for the Allies and was being captured in a fortress controlled by the Nazis. My Nazi lover is someone I accidentally ran into while trying to save my friend. While I don't want my friend to be killed, I don't want to betray my Nazi Lover. Hence, why I'm torn.
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      11 years ago
      
      Ah I see. Thanks for clarifying mon ami :)
      
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Pepperoni_Sticks

11 years ago

I don't disagree with National Socialists so it's a win-win for me.

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Justsomejerk

11 years ago

Die, Nazi spy.

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KnightNigelWellingtonXXI

11 years ago

Considering that most Nazi spies were incompetent and didn't get much intelligence over to the Fatherland, I'd assume my loved one didn't do much to help. So I would go for "personal feelings"... this time.

Signed,
Knight Nigel Wellington XXI

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  Interesting answer.
  
  Regards,
  Legatus August, Legio IV Scythica
  
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bananaface

11 years ago

Probably personal feelings. Unless I had my suspicions in the first place, I might not even believe that they're a spy. I'd want to talk to them and get an explanation. If that did happen, then I guess my reaction would depend on their explanation.

Nice post, by the way!:)

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  Thank you, Frau Bananaface ;)
  
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Are You Normal?

The dilemma