Human beings die and kill in the name of truth: In order to prove the reality of their society's sacred ideal. The nature of the entity or idea for which human beings die and kill is fungible. Among these:
- France
- Germany
- The British Empire
- The (Japanese) Emperor
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- Allah
- Freedom and democracy
- A Tamil homeland
- A more perfect union
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Regardless of the nature of the idea or ideal or entity, the mechanism is the same: death--and memorials erected in the name of those who died--testify to the reality of the idea or ideal or entity. Death and memorialization constitute a validation function.
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