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Originally Posted by Elphaba
Actually, all it took was one, misunderstood, phrase.
I recognized the phrase "good German" immediately and it's reference is not about Hitler, but of the citizens and military of Nazi Germany. It ties directly to Host's title "War Crimes: Complicity and Culpability of Americans" and is very likely associated with his new avatar.
The big question after WWII was why were the atrocities allowed? The military excuse was "I was just following orders", meaning I am a good soldier and someone else is to blame. The civilian response was similar, "I am a good German", as opposed to a traitor to the homeland. "The good German" came to represent all those who turned a blind eye to murder and remained silent.
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Exactly. Those who were swayed by the talk of "patriotism is not question the government" were as much responsible for the atrocities as those who actually carried them out. Who Host suggests, and I agree whole heartedly with, is that those who are trying to be patriotic by going along with party lines and blindly following those in power are guilty of not thinking for themselves, and are thus partially responsible for any wrong doing done by those they follow. And I'm guilty of writing a run on sentence.