Bishop's Call for Mercy and Compassion Triggers Hate
It's all too familiar
After the Bishop of Washington called for mercy and compassion, the POTUS recolied and attacked her. Even worse, millions of Americans agree with Trump. I seem to remember another time and another leader who rejected the idea of mercy and compassion.
Adolf Hitler often expressed his disdain for mercy and compassion in his writings and speeches, particularly in his book Mein Kampf and during his leadership of Nazi Germany. He viewed these qualities as weaknesses, incompatible with his vision of a strong, dominant state and society. Here are a few key points and contexts:
1. Hitler’s Ideological Beliefs
Hitler believed in the "survival of the fittest", influenced by his distorted interpretation of Social Darwinism. He saw mercy and compassion as hindrances to the progress and purity of the German race.
He frequently framed compassion as a trait that led to the decay of nations and saw cruelty as a necessary tool to achieve his goals.
2. Examples from Mein Kampf
In Mein Kampf, Hitler emphasized that the state must not allow sympathy for the weak to undermine its objectives:
“The stronger must dominate and not blend with the weaker, thus sacrificing his own greatness. Only the born weakling can view this as cruel, but he, after all, is only a weak and limited man.”
This statement reflects his belief that mercy was a betrayal of strength.
3. Practical Application in Nazi Policies
Hitler's rejection of mercy was evident in the brutal policies of the Nazi regime, such as:
The Holocaust: Systematic genocide carried out without remorse.
Euthanasia Programs (T4 Program): Targeting the disabled and mentally ill as "life unworthy of life."
Military Strategy: The "scorched earth" policy and refusal to consider humanitarian concerns in occupied territories.
4. Speeches on Ruthlessness
In a speech to military leaders and officials, Hitler once stated:
“Whoever has survived in this world has survived because he has ruthlessly eliminated everything that stands in his way… This is not a world for the soft.”
He frequently advocated ruthlessness as a virtue.
5. Rejection of Compassion in Leadership
Hitler believed that showing mercy or compassion in leadership was a sign of weakness. He demanded absolute loyalty and unquestioning execution of orders, regardless of their moral implications.
His generals and officers were often instructed to act without pity, especially in war and during purges within Germany.
Conclusion
Hitler’s rejection of mercy and compassion was central to his worldview and policies. He equated these qualities with weakness, incompatible with the ruthless, hierarchical society he envisioned. His ideology and actions, driven by this belief, led to unprecedented atrocities and suffering.
Is this what you voted for?