In class we talked about Martin Buber's explanation on the "I" and how it can be used to consider completely separate perspectives. First, there is the "I" as in "you". This is a subject, as in "you cannot be a something, but rather a someone." The other "I" connotes the "it" as in referring to a he, she, or they. Thus we are referring to a person as an object much the same as talking to a person in the 3rd person.
"my you acts on me as I act on it"- Martin Buber
Redick explained the the objective version of "I" is brought about in instances like love and war. The relationship that comes when love is lost turns from subjective to objective for sake of self preservation. The person must turn the past relationship into an object to help cope with the loss of such an influence in one's life. To be able to make the claim "I will never do that again" is turning the subjective relationship into something more tangible as part of the grieving process. That way the individual can trick themselves into perceiving that it is over with even though the after effects will linger for significantly longer in the form of "emotional scaring" or what is commonly referred to in social media as "baggage."
The same perceptual transformation occurs with soldiers when they are forced to cope with the travesties committed in war. "It is necessary in war because you have to protect your own mind when forced to kill people." Thus instead of being conscious of the person's life and feelings that is on the other end of one's barrel the soldier may focus on the importance of accuracy and haste. Being forced to deal with the emotions involved in considering the humanistic qualities of the enemy can be quite tasking on the mind and even crippling. This however, cannot happen because ultimately its kill or be killed.
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