I've been thinking about intentions lately. And this thought came to mind:
I think Hitler meant well. But let it be known, I do not agree in any way or form with what he did. It was bad. When I say he meant well, I mean that from his perspective. I am not a Hitler fan in the slightest.
I honestly do think he meant well. He meant to make the world a better place. He meant to bring up the poor, provide opportunities for healthcare for all and bring about general prosperity through this "Third Way," neither communist nor capitalist. Of course, Hitler's means to his end were evil and one of the most glaring examples of evil widely known to people. We learn about Hitler from our current, contemporary perspective, where he is taught as if he were the classic villain, scheming and twirling his mustache. We view Hitler as the icon of evil, plotting in his room, "What's the worst thing I could do today?" I don't think that's how it went. He meant well. His intentions were good. Hardly anything he did was good though. The way to make the world a better place, in his opinion, was for the "Master Race" to control it all by way of military take over. Thank God he did not succeed. After reading biographies, accounts, political science books about him and the Nazi state, there were good intentions by way of making the world a better place, but upon the Nazi's terms alone. He brought Germany out of a malaise no one wanted to be in anymore. He got into power while many good people, including Christians, stood by. It almost "just happened." We underestimate the resonence of his rhetoric and words of good intent as they were heard at the time.
He unified Germany as well. The word "unity" is thrown around a lot by politicians, but it's not a good thing in every case. I mostly remember Obama using it during his campaign, but I'm sure McCain used it as well. Saint JFK certainly used the word. Unity is not always a good thing. Pillaging barbarians are unified, the Mafia is unified. Similar to "intent," we must look at what the means and end are to our unity.
Let us think about what is at the core of politicians' statements when they use intentions as justification or unity as a necessity towards a greater goal.
I think Hitler meant well. But let it be known, I do not agree in any way or form with what he did. It was bad. When I say he meant well, I mean that from his perspective. I am not a Hitler fan in the slightest.
I honestly do think he meant well. He meant to make the world a better place. He meant to bring up the poor, provide opportunities for healthcare for all and bring about general prosperity through this "Third Way," neither communist nor capitalist. Of course, Hitler's means to his end were evil and one of the most glaring examples of evil widely known to people. We learn about Hitler from our current, contemporary perspective, where he is taught as if he were the classic villain, scheming and twirling his mustache. We view Hitler as the icon of evil, plotting in his room, "What's the worst thing I could do today?" I don't think that's how it went. He meant well. His intentions were good. Hardly anything he did was good though. The way to make the world a better place, in his opinion, was for the "Master Race" to control it all by way of military take over. Thank God he did not succeed. After reading biographies, accounts, political science books about him and the Nazi state, there were good intentions by way of making the world a better place, but upon the Nazi's terms alone. He brought Germany out of a malaise no one wanted to be in anymore. He got into power while many good people, including Christians, stood by. It almost "just happened." We underestimate the resonence of his rhetoric and words of good intent as they were heard at the time.
He unified Germany as well. The word "unity" is thrown around a lot by politicians, but it's not a good thing in every case. I mostly remember Obama using it during his campaign, but I'm sure McCain used it as well. Saint JFK certainly used the word. Unity is not always a good thing. Pillaging barbarians are unified, the Mafia is unified. Similar to "intent," we must look at what the means and end are to our unity.
Let us think about what is at the core of politicians' statements when they use intentions as justification or unity as a necessity towards a greater goal.
1 comment:
Good point about "unity" having a neutrality to it. It can be used for good (say, the church when it's doing it's thing right) and it can be used for evil (as in your Hitler case).
The intent is everything.
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