Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon
In regards to your comments on guilt through compliance, does that count for every single German soldier, airman or sailor who served the Reich in the war?
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The words I used, were
responsibility for one's own
obedience.
Yes, that is true for every single soldier in the German army in that war. And all other soldiers in all other armies in that and all other wars, from WWII over Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. That has many aspects and nuances, and factors increasing and relativising the amount of guilt. But the principle remain true: you are responsible for your obedience. May it be regarding a command. Ma yit be regarding loyalty to a person, commander, president, government, nation.
It is you deciding whether to comply with the situation you are in, or to refuse to do so. Consequences of your choice will be like this or like that, may even cost you your life. But still: you are responsible for your obedience. If not you - who else would it be? You choose the decision to comply with orders or not, to follow leaders or not, to believe what's being told you or not.
One could think of it as karma, too.
During the Nurmeberg trials, quite some of the accused argued that they just followed orders. Still the court thought that by that they were responsible for the consequences of their obedience.
You have noted probably that in thread son election and why I say people should not vote, the same issue appears. Because people are repsmsible for the leaders they legitimise by voting, the system they legitimise by voting, the lies they allow to be taken for argument when voting for the liars. You not only can choose to vote or not to vote - you are responsible for your choice.
If you want to avoid responsibility and want to be totally free, you need to live on an empty planet where there is just you alone.