Oops: it was Truman and not Eisenhower who gave the go-ahead for the bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima…that’s a great example of how faulty my memory can be. Apologies; I don’t want to start a narrative about Eisenhower on this!
Hi Richard: many of the leaders were/are well-intentioned and well-educated, just like you and me. I have not read all of their biographies, but I know a bit about Churchill and Roosevelt and a few others. I believe their intentions were to “win” because they believed in “our side,” and they I believe they thought of the “enemy” (German, Japanese) sub- human. How could Eisenhower (who did some good things and was well educated) agree to drop a bomb on two Japanese cities in which hundreds of thousands of mostly civilians were instantly or gradually killed? How can you or I humanize our views of others, giving them the benefit of the doubt about their humanity? Using the skill of Real Dialogue: speak for yourself and listen mindfully. Don’t speak of the “others” unless you have direct experience and then speak modestly. Thanks for your comments.
“Reflect for a minute on the massive exterminations and annihilations of other human beings in the 20th and 21st centuries alone: civilized societies led by well-educated and well-intentioned leaders…”
In my opinion the vast majority of the events referred to( whatever they are!) we’re not led by well educated or well intentioned leaders.
Oops: it was Truman and not Eisenhower who gave the go-ahead for the bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima…that’s a great example of how faulty my memory can be. Apologies; I don’t want to start a narrative about Eisenhower on this!
Hi Richard: many of the leaders were/are well-intentioned and well-educated, just like you and me. I have not read all of their biographies, but I know a bit about Churchill and Roosevelt and a few others. I believe their intentions were to “win” because they believed in “our side,” and they I believe they thought of the “enemy” (German, Japanese) sub- human. How could Eisenhower (who did some good things and was well educated) agree to drop a bomb on two Japanese cities in which hundreds of thousands of mostly civilians were instantly or gradually killed? How can you or I humanize our views of others, giving them the benefit of the doubt about their humanity? Using the skill of Real Dialogue: speak for yourself and listen mindfully. Don’t speak of the “others” unless you have direct experience and then speak modestly. Thanks for your comments.
“Reflect for a minute on the massive exterminations and annihilations of other human beings in the 20th and 21st centuries alone: civilized societies led by well-educated and well-intentioned leaders…”
In my opinion the vast majority of the events referred to( whatever they are!) we’re not led by well educated or well intentioned leaders.