Jewish Defence league. Are they really that dumb? - Page 3

Jazzman · 12-26-2007, 03:20 PM

Very true. I wonder how long before he is required to be referred to as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

It's a bit sad because Hitler presents a very rare real-world example of extreme psychological and sociological disorders and a lot could be learned from studying him but the taboo that exists around even discussing him closes off that path. Sometimes I worry that at some point another Hitler may emerge and the world will miss the chance to prevent it because no lessons were learned in Hitler's case.

Prudence · 12-26-2007, 03:35 PM

Actually, I would go so far as to say that it *is* a useful statement.

It is easy to dismissively note that of course Hitler approved of his own actions and considered them "good." It is more complicated to recognize what that means in contemporary life, society, and politics.

Writing off people who have done horrible things as "evil", and ignoring any exploration of their intentions or motivations, invites a reliance on the notion that identifying such people (without the benefit of hindsight) is easy and obvious. Good guys and bad guys don't stroll about wearing convenient name tags. The world is shades of grey. Is Musharraf a good guy who is preventing Islamic radicals from taking power, or a bad guy preventing the spread of democracy? Is Bhutto a shining example of female empowerment in the Muslim world or a famously corrupt politician?

Which isn't to say that I'm suggesting Hitler had a "good" side and was just tragically misunderstood. Rather, it is a lesson to all of us to be mindful of how what is "good" for us may be "bad" for others.

In fact, even something that is completely "good" in the abstract may be "bad" when put into actual practice. We should be vigilant to ensure that our "good" intentions result in "good" result - not results that start of kind of good for us and not for others, and then still a bit good for us but really quite objectionable to others, ending up in really quite repellent any way you look at it.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-27-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

A Is Bhutto a shining example of female empowerment in the Muslim world or a famously corrupt politician?

Neither, she's been killed in a suicide attack.

Kevy Baby · 12-26-2007, 03:45 PM

Will Smith explains Hitler remarks

03:22 PM CST on Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Quote:

News services The Anti-Defamation League said Wednesday that it accepts Will Smith 's explanation that he never praised Adolf Hitler in remarks the star says were misinterpreted. A Scottish newspaper recently quoted Mr. Smith as saying: "Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.' " The quote was preceded by the writer's observation: "Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good." After Web sites posted articles alleging that Mr. Smith believed Hitler was a good person, the actor issued a statement Monday saying that was an "awful and disgusting lie" and calling Hitler "a vile, heinous vicious killer."

That is the entire article that I found on the Dallas Morning News site.

Kevy Baby · 12-26-2007, 03:48 PM

I think Hitler was just misunderstood.

€uroMeinke · 12-26-2007, 04:55 PM

I'm a moral relativist - so I do not believe Hitler was "objectively" evil

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 12-26-2007, 06:20 PM

The song "Springtime for Hitler" just came to mind.

Not Afraid · 12-26-2007, 06:33 PM

So, what would Godwin do when Hitler IS the topic?

Morrigoon · 12-26-2007, 06:37 PM

I dunno... do you lose the argument comparing him to Pol-pot or Caesar?

Oooh, I've got it: Castro!

Hmm... no that doesn't quite fly either. Hussein? Ahmahdinejad? King George?

Was there every anybody as evil as Hitler that time has simply forgotten? Who was Hitler before Hitler was Hitler?

Jazzman · 12-26-2007, 06:40 PM

Genghis Kahn.

12-26-2007, 03:20 PM	#1
Jazzman Sax God Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland's Tijuana Posts: 510	Very true. I wonder how long before he is required to be referred to as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It's a bit sad because Hitler presents a very rare real-world example of extreme psychological and sociological disorders and a lot could be learned from studying him but the taboo that exists around even discussing him closes off that path. Sometimes I worry that at some point another Hitler may emerge and the world will miss the chance to prevent it because no lessons were learned in Hitler's case.
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12-26-2007, 03:35 PM	#2
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	Actually, I would go so far as to say that it is a useful statement. It is easy to dismissively note that of course Hitler approved of his own actions and considered them "good." It is more complicated to recognize what that means in contemporary life, society, and politics. Writing off people who have done horrible things as "evil", and ignoring any exploration of their intentions or motivations, invites a reliance on the notion that identifying such people (without the benefit of hindsight) is easy and obvious. Good guys and bad guys don't stroll about wearing convenient name tags. The world is shades of grey. Is Musharraf a good guy who is preventing Islamic radicals from taking power, or a bad guy preventing the spread of democracy? Is Bhutto a shining example of female empowerment in the Muslim world or a famously corrupt politician? Which isn't to say that I'm suggesting Hitler had a "good" side and was just tragically misunderstood. Rather, it is a lesson to all of us to be mindful of how what is "good" for us may be "bad" for others. In fact, even something that is completely "good" in the abstract may be "bad" when put into actual practice. We should be vigilant to ensure that our "good" intentions result in "good" result - not results that start of kind of good for us and not for others, and then still a bit good for us but really quite objectionable to others, ending up in really quite repellent any way you look at it. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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12-26-2007, 03:48 PM	#5
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	I think Hitler was just misunderstood. __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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12-26-2007, 04:55 PM	#6
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	I'm a moral relativist - so I do not believe Hitler was "objectively" evil __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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12-26-2007, 06:20 PM	#7
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	The song "Springtime for Hitler" just came to mind.
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12-26-2007, 06:33 PM	#8
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	So, what would Godwin do when Hitler IS the topic?
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12-26-2007, 06:37 PM	#9
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	I dunno... do you lose the argument comparing him to Pol-pot or Caesar? Oooh, I've got it: Castro! Hmm... no that doesn't quite fly either. Hussein? Ahmahdinejad? King George? Was there every anybody as evil as Hitler that time has simply forgotten? Who was Hitler before Hitler was Hitler? __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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12-26-2007, 06:40 PM	#10
Jazzman Sax God Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland's Tijuana Posts: 510	Genghis Kahn.
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