Democratic World vs. Republican World

[JR]

can you say that Nazi's are evil? Or would that be painting with too broad a brush for your taste?

i used to think Colin was just being a pain in the ass too. i used to suggest a great idea (what i thought to be a great idea anyway) and get bombarded with very simple questions. often questions so simple, i did not understand the usefulness of asking them. "what does "....." mean" - "what do you mean when you say "...."?" etc.

i used to get a little annoyed until i started to look at things the other way. i am asking someone with a Yale degree in physics to answer a question. in the end, i began to understand that it is in fact quite natural to define the questions, the language and to make sure that the question, termonology etc is clearly defined, understood and agreed upon from the outset... otherwise moving forward in a discussion where no one understands the other guy is often not very productive. its a normal function of debate and certainly science to establish definitions of words, define the questions etc etc first. science, mathematics and logic not about assumptions

"are Nazi's evil"?

i think too that is a generalization and a typically loaded question... the question itself implies that there can be only one black and white definition of "Nazi" and that it is (or is assumed to be) mutually understood by both parties to the discussion)... and that there cannot be any category or type of "Nazi" that may fall into a gray area.

how do you define "Nazi"? the word Nazi is symbolic of what all of us would probably agree to be very evil and unthinkable acts. The word is itself is symbolic of what we could probably all agree to be evil. But do you share the same definition of Nazi as another does? ... its impossible to know without asking.

are Nazis that refused to carry out their orders evil?
are Nazis that saved the lives of Jews and others evil?
are Nazis that defected, deserted and turned against German troops evil?
was a Nazi supply clerk in Amsterdam who managed laundry services evil?




Last edited by JR at May 4 2003, 03:36 AM