Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 11:34:28 -0500
From: kvc@compuserve.com ("Kent Van Cleave")
Subject: Re: [lpaz-discuss] Thugs
To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Schauble <pls@thekeep.com>
To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com <lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, August 08, 2001 5:46 AM
Subject: [lpaz-discuss] Thugs


>

>You notice I changed the subject.

>

>I'm not sure that I agree with this part:

>

>> treating low-ranking prisoners of war with kidness, and ultimately

>> seeking to punish the real tyrants without forcing their pawns to absorb

all
>> the losses.

>

>It's a sad fact of our world that tyrants have no problem finding thugs

>to carry out their wishes. How do we treat the thugs? I see two broad

>choices

>

>1. The thugs are under the spell of the dictator and not responsible for

>their actions. Imprison them and treat them well.

>

>2. The thugs are nonetheless moral agents and should be held responsible

>or their actions.

>

>I personally think that not treating a human as a responsible moral

>agent leads to some very ugly things. Besides, there's the practical

>throught that a person who will be thug to one tyrant will also work for

>another.



I agree, Paul. Still, I think there are minions who don't qualify as
thugs -- maybe not entirely blameless, but not deserving of the total
devastation they often get in service to their masters. Soldiers of the rank
and file often have no idea whether the cause they are prosecuting is just
or not -- it just happens to be the cause their leaders have chosen.
Usually, believing in their leaders -- or at least in their nation and/or
people, they assume the cause is just. And they die in trenches, or languish
in POW camps, or go home without limbs, etc. I think a concerted effort to
target those responsible for aggressive military action (and other such
crimes) needs to become the focus if justice is to be properly directed.

Kent



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