But "all" people are not capable of doing this. We in the US, as a people, would never do this. Nor could most individuals in a "civilized" society be swept up into this. At that time, I was looking at people who may or may not have been directly or indirectly involved in the systematic elimination of a people because of their religious belief. It wasn't an esoteric question of all humanity, it was a question of personal responsibility.
Mother Theresa said that she decided to begin her service in Calcutta when she looked into herself and found a Hitler lurking there.
No one knows what is in his own heart of darkness unless he is put to the test.
I love the United States. It is the greatest nation ever to grace the earth. It is God's gift to the world and to all of us.
However, less than a century and a half ago, slavery was legal in the U.S., and at the time of the writing of the Constitution, slavery was legal is every state.
It was possible to buy a man, woman, or child and do whatever you wished with him or her--and, until the Civil War, this had the approval of the American people. Imagination is all one needs to know what some people would do with them; however, historical sources spell it out.
Until the 1880's, a bounty of $5.00 was paid, in some counties of California, for the head of any Indian. This was done with the approval of the people of California.
Then there was Wounded Knee.
Knowing that people are capable of such does not diminish our ability to love and respect people.
For every Hitler, there are many more Todd Beamers and Rachel Scotts.
Goodness and heroism are as inherent in human nature as is the ability to commit atrocities. In fact, it's stronger and more powerful. But the other side of human nature also exists, and we must not forget it. Awareness of it is the only way to prevent ourselves from allowing it to overtake us.
People are beautiful, wonderful, and heroic and to be loved. I do not mean to take away from this.
The lesson of the death camps is that All people are capable of it. Germany was the arts capitol of the world, and one of the most Christian ones. They put secular leaders in charge of the country and it turned into a death camp. All you have to do is listen to the cries of the looney left to realize that under the face paint is a little Nazi that is dying to get into power.
Hilter was put into power on a platform of peace, prosperity and liberal freedom. He use the platform as a gallows. Hitler was a total liberal, gay rights, the works. And Hitler is alive and amoung us today, and rapidly gaining power in the United States.