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From: carnes@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Richard Carnes)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.politics
Subject: Re: Don Black, Nazis, and the amazing disappearing Holocaust
Message-ID: <386@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Mar-85 16:12:40 EST
Article-I.D.: gargoyle.386
Posted: Wed Mar 27 16:12:40 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Mar-85 03:08:29 EST
Organization: U. Chicago - Computer Science
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Xref: watmath net.religion:6328 net.politics:8260

In article <> russ@ihuxf.UUCP (Russell Spence) writes:

> Actually, having just finished reading *Mein
>Kampf* I would have been disappointed if Hitler HADN'T tried to kill all
>of the Jews.
>Was Hitler wrong in killing the Jews?  Well, history has already made that
>judgement,  he lost the war.  Therefore, even by his standards he can be
>judged a failure and in the wrong.  Is he wrong JUST because he exterminated
>6 million Jews?  That one is tougher.  

Yes, this one's a real toughie, so let's warm up on an easier one,
recently posed by Don Black.  Are the Jews living today responsible
in part for the crucifixion of Christ?  At first glance, this appears
to be one of those insoluble legal conundrums, but then we recall
that in most courts of law, it is considered an extenuating
circumstance if the crime was committed 1,900 years before the birth
of the alleged perpetrators.  So I would have to say, pending further
reflection and the appearance of additional witnesses and/or
evidence, that living Jews such as my apartment-mate George cannot be
held fully responsible for the death of Christ.  (George denies any
involvement, but what did you expect.  Hey, you want I should torture
him to make him confess?)

Now, back to the original question:

>Sure the simple answer is that genocide
>is evil and since Hitler tried to kill all of the Jews, he is evil too.
>This is a very nice and simple answer. 

Incredibly simplistic.  It's amazing the way people will jump to
conclusions and jump all over a guy just because he tries to wipe out
a race or ethnic group.  It's sad that there is such prejudice in the
world.  Look, sometimes it's just an honest mistake, and people make
mistakes, right?  Well, anyway, I have thunk and thunk about whether
Hitler was wrong JUST because he exterminated 6 million Jews, but I
still can't get a handle on this one.  Maybe if some of the best net
brains put their heads together we can get somewhere with this
question.  Any ideas out there?

Richard Carnes, Legion of the Iron Fist
Marching in your neighborhood soon!