At Dverse Ingrid is hosting Prosery with an invitation to use a line from William Blake’s poem ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ – “If all do their duty, they need not fear harm.”
dVerse Poets – Prosery – Doing Our Duty
“Being evil is only something that only humans are capable of.” Jane Goodall
Just Following Orders
In 1960 an architect appeared in court in down town Jerusalem charged with crimes against humanity. He was the architect of the Holocaust, his defence was banal, he claimed immunity because he was only following orders.
Who never questions motive? Who believes they are perfect and above the law?And who never effects harm on others? But of those who excelled in following orders, no matter how perverted, Adolf Eichmann stands apart as intentionally evil, and more so because of his claim that he was just following orders. And, so, if all do their duty, they need not fear harm? really? Think slavery. Think Eichman, think Vietnam War, Think Derek Chauvin, think so many.
Our actions always affect others, and where there is evil the effect is always negative. Harm comes to those in the orbit of such people. Just listen to Holocaust survivors.
Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®
parallax 
Well said Paul. These people must have no conscience at all, truly evil.
Sent from my iPhone
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Yes, risking life, the world, just for self. Thank you so much Cheryl.
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This packs a punch, Paul. If we blindly follow orders without questioning the effects, we are complicit in evil. If we actively follow them knowing the harm we do, so much the worse.
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O, yes indeed, I see that too, many thanks for sharing this Ingrid.
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There are many situations in life where it is necessary to follow orders, but we shouldn’t follow blindly. It is our duty to avoid following orders that our conscience tells us are wrong. If we are asked to follow evil orders, we may be on the wrong side in the first place!
Very thought-provoking post, Paul. ❤
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i couldn’t agree more Cheryl, if only the rest of the world could see it and know it, so dangerous.
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You tell it like it is, my brother.
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Thank you very much Ana 🙂
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Yes. Exactly. Very well said. And very much along these lines, you might enjoy the book about the people who captured Eichmann after the war, and the time they had to spend with him in hiding while they awaited a plane to get them out of Argentina – a fantastic read even if CHILLING at times – “Hunting Eichmann,” Neal Bascomb
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I really appreciate this, I haven’t read that book (now I will have too) what a feat they achieved to bring some sense of justice! Thank you so much
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I think the scariest part of the Holocaust is how easily ordinary people fell in with evil.
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Oh, yes indeed Liz, the lack of reflection (seen only too recently in your country) that would destroy us all. Many thanks Liz.
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You’re welcome, Paul. That lack of reflection in the US shows no signs of improving. I am constantly flummoxed by the lack of awareness of history.
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So frustrating
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You have composed a deep, honest, description of his particular brand of evil. The worst.
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Thank you Helen, Yes, the brand that lurks within rather than in some mythical figure.
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The great sham that evil is a devil in a flashy red suit with horns and a pitchfork is a parlor trick that many believe. Evil is banal but the ripples from it grow to tsunami size.
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Yes, and no red suit to cover us as we merrily plough on in the belief in a blame factor rather than look within, thank you for getting this Ingrid.
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The line jumped in the queue – It should read “thank you for getting this Lisa.”
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You’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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🙂
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Always a pleasure to read and share your posts with followers, Paul!! Have a great day!
😊👍✨✨🎉
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Sometimes “orders” pave a way for the expression of evil. Certainly in this case.
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Yes, I agree VJ and history proves it, sadly.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Many thanks Michael.
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🙂🙂
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I fully agree with all the other commentors, Paul!
At the moment I am annoyed about something that is monstrous for me in the region. One wants to let “grass grow” in the truest sense of the word over the only sparse floor plans of prisoner barracks in the former Flossenbürg extermination camp. https://www.oberpfalzecho.de/beitrag/imker-wollen-augen-oeffnen-fuer-bluehwiesen-der-kz-gedenkstaette
Are people so forgotten about history? In the mid-1990s, the Free State of Bavaria had sold the site to a French company. A factory site was to be built there. However, the company’s supervisory board recognized the sacrilege and returned it to a foundation in the Free State of Bavaria. Now one tries in every possible way to make this memorial disappear. xx Michael
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What a disgrace – when all avenues of active denial fail (Holocaust denial) then capitalism succeeds without even trying.
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What a disgrace, when denial fails (Holocaust denial) capitalism succeeds without even trying by possessing the land.
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So true, Paul! But we will try to fight against the denial. Its our duty!
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Yes, we really must
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😉
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❤
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🙂
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https://dilrangapereradrama.wordpress.com/
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Thank you.
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❤🙏
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Great challenging prose
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Many thanks
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