A new program has appeared in American schools whose purpose seems to be to
teach objectivity. While this may be a noble goal, it is focused on a
peculiar event: 911. The gist of the course episode seems to be to show
some understanding of the terrorists and their mindset. One of the
sections raises the question of how the Americans are perceived
internationally and how American policies might engender antagonism in
other nations. This is an effort to make the 911 atrocity
understandable.
This is very dangerous ground.
Open-mindedness. Parallax. Seeing things in context. It all sounds commendable. But seeing the better side of atrocity is no virtue. Strangely, seeing an action as the product of many fused factors, usually social and economic, never seems to include elements of immorality, savagery or evil.
Should we really argue that the strain of World War 1, an unfair Treaty of Versailles and inflation led to the Holocaust?
This is very dangerous ground.
Open-mindedness. Parallax. Seeing things in context. It all sounds commendable. But seeing the better side of atrocity is no virtue. Strangely, seeing an action as the product of many fused factors, usually social and economic, never seems to include elements of immorality, savagery or evil.
Should we really argue that the strain of World War 1, an unfair Treaty of Versailles and inflation led to the Holocaust?
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