Usually, those who are most enthusiastic about dividing things into "good" and "evil" are themselves extremely evil by common standards. Case in point: the Nazis, to whom the Jews were evil incarnate, and they themselves the valiant defenders of the Aryan race.
Calling an action "evil" does not explain it or help prevent it - it's usually a way to express revulsion and avoid further thinking.
Calling specific people "evil" again does not explain their actions or give insights how to make them not-evil or prevent others from becoming like them. In fact, all such explanations and insights are usually strongly rejected by those who'd rather express the strongest possible revulsion for them.
Finally, calling groups of people "evil" is almost always a method to dehumanize them and justify killing them, while suspending critical thought in those you want to do the killing.
"Usually, those who are most enthusiastic about dividing things into "good" and "evil" are themselves extremely evil by common standards."
True, but it isn't always about dividing things... Sometimes there's just no other word to describe certain actions or groups of people. Mentioned elsewhere in the thread were the atrocities of Hitler, Stalin, Mao -- what is one to say about those? "Oh, it's just a matter of perspective?" I think not.
So you'll be OK with some country right now doing Holocaust over some minority, or will you protest that?
If you'll protest, why? And why you don't protest againist all the governments that do this all evil things?
Many things are relative, but not all. Making it seem relative is just comfy, but comfort is less important than truth.
I'll agree that every country in WWII wasn't innocent, that Jews right now are overplaying the Holocaust card, that many countries politis, unfortunately including mine, makes victims of itself, which is indignifing and stupid thing to do. But telling me Holocaust wasn't evil makes me think you wouldn't mean it repeating, and that makes me hate you a little :) (ok, I really don't believe you wouldn't mean - I think you just play the devil advocate there).
So you'll be OK with some country right now doing Holocaust over some minority, or will you protest that?
That's definitely not okay.
If you'll protest, why? And why you don't protest against all the governments that do this all evil things?
Hell, I only have 112 useful waking hours a week. If I tried to protest over every egregious thing perpetrated by a government, that would be a full time occupation. Heck, just keeping track of those things would be.
But telling me Holocaust wasn't evil makes me think you wouldn't mean it repeating, and that makes me hate you a little
AHEM! If you read the parent comments, you'll find that I am advocating the applicability of the term evil!
Your comment is so full of putting words into other's mouths, grasping for straws, and unwarranted leaps, I don't know where to begin.
Ok, I'm sorry. I've overreacted to this post and somehow mixed in my mind who is replying to whom (by not reading all posts in between, my fault, should teach me to think before posting).
I've interpreted your statement that all countries did sth wrong as statement that Nazi Germany, USSR were no worse than other countries, and their deeds were nothing more evil than deeds of other countries.
Should have deleted my comment, but that way it will remind me to read whole thread before replying.
Well said - I guess I was using "evil" as a personal shorthand for my own beliefs about certain political regimes. Certainly using a label of "evil" as a shortcut to avoid any further analysis is something to be avoided.
As for governments, their danger lies in their size and authoritarian power structures, which lets people on top give orders without taking responsibility for how those orders are implemented.
Non-government organizations of similar size are just as good at perpetrating evil, when they get the chance. Fortunately, few private companies are allowed to participate in wars.
Also, please name a government that hasn't done anything evil. There's none! Governments are dangerous things.