Oldal 119 [119]
is the enemy. The moral relativism of existentialists, according
to which who is locked out by the wall it is a question of point of
view, is utterly invalid here. Here the struggle is for survival, and
the outcome of that fight is in doubt. From this point of view, the
wall’s defense is understandable and acceptable since it is legiti¬
mate protection in the form of the protection of the individual.
It is at least as indisputable in the case of an individual as it is for
a group or even a community. The community can protect itself
just the same as the individual. If 1 defend myself, this is grounds
for exemption from all legal punishment, so long as I meet two
conditions:
% the danger cannot be avoided in any other way,
® and my actions are proportionate.
We might add that the struggle here is not to occupy the other’s
living space or destroy the other, but to defend. This is what the
wall stands for. It is only for your own protection. It cannot be
used to retaliate. Anyone who thinks in this way inevitably sees
the other as hostile even without a realistic threat from that other.
This seems good and desirable because it puts the person ina legit¬
imate position of defense against the other (whether there is a real
threat or not), and that person firmly believes that they can and in
fact must take steps to defend their territory, culture, economy,
etc. from the enemy, otherwise the other will distort and then
completely change the same, and thus identity will vanish and be
destroyed. The words of King Alcinous are clear and unambiguous:
“Stop our convoys home for every castaway chancing on our city!”
Cooperation is replaced by confrontation, justified by legitimate
protection. You need a Wall. The bigger, the stronger, the more
protected, and of course the longer, the higher, the better. And
the Night Watch (Game of Thrones again) will resolutely defend
the Wall, if necessary, by any means. This is understandable and
follows powerfully from human nature. In the past, castles were
built, ditches were dug, watchtowers were erected, and defenders
opened fired when someone approached with hostile or even un¬