Guilty Men and Evil Men

American Thinker ^ | 15 Jul, 2022 | Michael Curtis

[MtnClimber]

What makes a man evil?

In life, as in fiction, individuals may be motivated to act in evil fashion by malice, by ideological hatred of victims, by wanting to impress superiors, by carrying out orders or instructions, by hunger to advance their careers. These philosophical issues are pertinent in consideration of two recent events: a new film and the anniversary of one of the most macabre meetings in history, which can illustrate the difference between well meant mistakes and evil — a contrast between the behavior of Neville Chamberlain, British Conservative prime minister, 1937–1940, and Adolf Eichmann and the Nazi German regime.

Chamberlain is best known as the proponent of the policy of appeasement toward Hitler and the Nazi regime. He became the epitome of the failed leader, the man who lost a confidence vote in the House of Commons and who was succeeded as prime minister by Winston Churchill, a high-profile figure who offered the country nothing but blood, toil, tears, and sweat and has been heralded as the hero of 1940.

A milder, revisionist view of Chamberlain is presented in a new film, Munich, the Edge of War, which suggests a reconsideration of the Munich Agreement of September 30, 1938. Chamberlain justified the agreement on several levels, mainly as giving Britain time to prepare for the evident war, an action that he hoped would save millions. It was in general accord with the mood of the country at that time. Yet this defense is not altogether plausible because it also gave Hitler more time to arm and neutralized for him, for a time, the threat of the Soviet Union.

Chamberlain can be seen as more acceptable for some policy decisions. He advised the king to send for the then less popular Churchill to succeed him

[MtnClimber]

[Diogenesis]

[Da Coyote]

What makes Democrats?
Evil.

What makes one guilty?
Being a Democrat.