After World War II, the United States argued at the Nuremberg war-crimes trials—and directly to the German people themselves—that the whole nation bore collective responsibility and guilt for the crimes of Nazi Germany because, despite the risks of resistance in a totalitarian state, they could and should have risen up and overthrown Adolf Hitler. Now the same country, the United States, cannot even be bothered to hold a single substantial protest when its out-of-control president threatens to use nuclear weapons against Iran, despite the fact that Iran poses no danger to us.
Collective Guilt, Then and Now
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication and WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a contributor to Centerclip and co-host of "The TMI Show" talk show. He is a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "2024: Revisited."
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If protest marches accomplished something other than raising the morale of the marchers then sign me up! But until that happens, I’m going to focus my efforts where I can be more effective. Talk to voters who don’t already agree with you, find some common ground that doesn’t involve committing evil, and persuade them to vote accordingly. Depending on where you live, existing local or state government leaders can be influenced for the better more easily than swaying the powerful in the federal government.
Ted,
You’re begging the question. You should watch “Hogan’s Heroes.” A LOT of Germans fought the Austrian Painter. One of my grandfathers died because of Hitler.