Almost daily: Hitler killed 6 million Jews: Stalin killed many of million Russians:etc.: Actually, in great likely hood, they killed no one. Where as we blame no one for the muders of the French Revolution: The Spanish Inqusition: Custer at Wasepa:
Wounded Knee: Sand Creek ? Did Andrew Jackson murder anyone during the Trail of Tears ?......How are we able to justify the inhumane acts of thousands and attribute them to a single individual on a selective basis ?
2007-04-21 17:30:47 · 4 answers · asked by dougie 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Good question even if many will fail to understand it. There's no dictator or mass murderer with political power that can exist without the consent of the masses that tolerate him and bring him (keep him) in power. From that view, yes, blaming one person is a classic example of oversimplification.
2007-04-22 08:20:33 · answer #1 · answered by V 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You bring up a really interesting and a really good point. Most likely I would say that these individuals were blamed for these acts because it served a political purpose for the US... Our country definitely had a motive by making enemies out of Stalin and Hitler. And in the examples you brought up where the US actually participated in acts of genocide, the government acted to squelch these incidents, as if they never happened, or at least not to such a large extent. Publishers of history books are also partially to blame here.
2007-04-22 00:44:11 · answer #2 · answered by asdf970 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because the power to stop or continue the atrocities rested squarely on their shoulders.
A person who hires a hitman is guilty of the murder, even though he didn't literally commit the murder. He /she was both the catylyst for setting the act in motion and had the power to stop it if he/she so desired...the same is true of leaders in history....they were both the catylyst and had the power to stop it. It's just like the captain of a ship is responsible for the conduct of his entire crew, if he did nothing to stop malicious acts...even (sometimes) if he didn't know about them..
the hypocrisy you pointed out is just that...the victor writes history...this is why it is important to get both sides of the story, and judge for yourself.
2007-04-22 00:52:02 · answer #3 · answered by Kenneth 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to take your Lithium. Do not stop your medication.
You do NOT "justify inhumane acts".
2007-04-22 00:40:21 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor J 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋