Obama considering steep nuclear arms cuts

[fhdz]

now, i could be wrong, but i believe grumbler is saying that although acts of genocide occur, only an exceptional few wish to commit them--with everyone else simply following the crowd that forms around the idea.

"wish to commit" and "capable of" are not equivalent.

[The Brain]

... in your example, rwanda, i highly doubt ...

Actually his name is LaShonda.

[grumbler]

now, i could be wrong, but i believe grumbler is saying that although acts of genocide occur, only an exceptional few wish to commit them--with everyone else simply following the crowd that forms around the idea. in your example, rwanda, i highly doubt every one of your family men who hacked apart their tutsi neighbors did so out of an innate desire for genocide. they hacked away because they were convinced by their friends and those they listened to that the tutsi were cockroaches, enemies of the state, vile people, etc. etc. who deserved death. the difference is subtle, but it is still there

Moreover, many Hutus who refused to attack their Tutsi neighbors when ordered to do so by the Interahamwe were then killed by the Interahame for "treason."  If one kills out of fear of being murdered, one isn't committing genocide.

Of course, this is moot, since the claim was that the capacity to commit genecide was part of the human condition; it is therefor general, and not limited to specific situations.  Mere examples cannot demonstrate that such a thing is true, though mere examples can, of course, disprove it.  I am unable to commit genocide, so the statement is disproven.  My characterization of Fahdiz's claim that the capacity for genocide is present in all human as extreme is, of course, a matter of opinion.   

[grumbler]

now, i could be wrong, but i believe grumbler is saying that although acts of genocide occur, only an exceptional few wish to commit them--with everyone else simply following the crowd that forms around the idea.

"wish to commit" and "capable of" are not equivalent.

No, but they are not unrelated either, since genocide can only be committed by people who want to.  Your argument is that all humans are capable of wanting to murder innocent others solely for the purpose of wiping out their ethnic, national, or racial group.  I'd call that position not just wrong, but extreme.  I'd say that the percentage of humans able to act on that basis was small, myself.  In fact, I would argue that acting on that basis was even counter to the human condition, and that for every person who acted against genocide, thousands wished that they dared.

[PDH]

Wait, you are saying "want to" is the same as "capable of" commiting genocide?

I might have had a couple of beers, but that does not seem the same to this foggy brain...

[LaCroix]

"wish to commit" and "capable of" are not equivalent.

correct, and that was my mistake in only briefly skimming the posts. consider my original post to now say wish to commit/are capable of. the difference doesn't really refute my point, i don't think. while some may be convinced to kill a man, or get worked up but what everyone around him is saying, fewer can, with a conscious decision, decide to actively participate in genocide

i remember that article posted on languish some months back about how some tribe tortured and killed a monkey that wandered into a village. the man who climbed up the tree to catch the monkey later regretted his actions, as he was under influence of mob mentality at the time and did not really think it through. that's just one example to explain a particular mentality involved

[Darth Wagtaros]

Kids, kids, as far as daddy's concerned your both potential murderers.

[PDH]

Kids, kids, as far as daddy's concerned your both potential murderers.

Thanks Wags.  I knew you could put it into perspective.

[Siege]

I want to eat oreos cookies in a bowl of cereal and milk topped with condensated milk.

[Ideologue]

I want to eat oreos cookies in a bowl of cereal and milk topped with condensated milk.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

[Siege]

I want to eat oreos cookies in a bowl of cereal and milk topped with condensated milk.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Point is, life is not about what we want to do, but about what is right for us to do.
I don't want stupid sugary calories in my body.

[CountDeMoney]

I want to eat oreos cookies in a bowl of cereal and milk topped with condensated milk.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Point is, life is not about what we want to do, but about what is right for us to do.
I don't want stupid sugary calories in my body.

I'm sure you'll be fine once a rabbi puts his bare feet in it for you.

[fhdz]

No, but they are not unrelated either, since genocide can only be committed by people who want to.

That is an interesting assumption.

[fhdz]

correct, and that was my mistake in only briefly skimming the posts. consider my original post to now say wish to commit/are capable of. the difference doesn't really refute my point, i don't think.

I disagree, I think the difference is significant.

[Caliga]

Point is, life is not about what we want to do, but about what is right for us to do.
I don't want stupid sugary calories in my body.

Hippies don't think that way, see.  "Do what feels right, maaaan!"