ETHICAL DILEMMA IN PLATOON
In the movie Platoon directed by Oliver Stone, Charlie Sheen portrays an idealistic young infantryman named Chris Taylor serving his first tour in Vietnam. When on patrol one day, Taylor’s platoon commits a series of war crimes against Vietnamese civilians, including rape and brutal murders (Stone, 1986). Taylor is then faced with a moral problem -- whether to stay loyal to his fellow soldiers despite their crimes or report them so they may face justice. The question is not solely based in loyalty, as reporting his peers also poses a risk to his own safety. Despite the potential consequences, it is imperative that soldiers adhere to the Army values and fight for an ethical outcome. To those who have never served
In the movie Platoon directed by Oliver Stone, Charlie Sheen portrays an idealistic young infantryman named Chris Taylor serving his first tour in Vietnam. When on patrol one day, Taylor’s platoon commits a series of war crimes against Vietnamese civilians, including rape and brutal murders (Stone, 1986). Taylor is then faced with a moral problem -- whether to stay loyal to his fellow soldiers despite their crimes or report them so they may face justice. The question is not solely based in loyalty, as reporting his peers also poses a risk to his own safety. Despite the potential consequences, it is imperative that soldiers adhere to the Army values and fight for an ethical outcome. To those who have never served