| "But does not purpose reflect on self-respect? Does not the absence of good purpose jeopardize the soldier's own ego, thus making him less likely to fight well and bravely? If a war is without justice, the soldier knows that the sacrifice of life, his own valued life, is demeaned, and therefor his self-respect must likewise be demeaned. Is that not so?" (Going After Cacciato, p. 179). | Purpose is directly related with a soldier's self-respect. Without a cause, the soldier no longer fights for the abstract notions of patriotism or justice. As a result, the soldier feels degraded, as if acting as a mere pawn on a gameboard that contributes and fights for nothing. |