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World War II war criminal emerges in Minnesota

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Why not both?

Comic books do have a lot of nazi's in them, I guess. There's a whole monologue about how a lot of bad shit went down because guys were "following orders" in X-Men first class though



I know Red Skull is Captain America, but the whole "just following orders" thing is right out of X-Men. Unless it's right out of both of course, which wouldn't surprise me in the least.

The whole "just following orders thing" isn't originally from X-Men. It was a common defense during the Nuremberg trials. I think his organs should be harvested and kept alive in some kind of coma to be a blood donor.
 
At 94? There's got to be an expiration date on these things. Sorry justice, you got made a fool of for 50 years the guy won.

So let's pretend you're married and someone brutally slays your wife and kids and they weren't found until 51 years later...you'd be fine with him not being brought to justice for his actions because of an "expiration date"?
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
What is the point in hurting him? People inclined toward punishment for the sake of punishment are disturbing.

Punishment of an individual is irrelevant. The lesson we must ALWAYS teach ourselves is literally NEVER FORGET.

That is why that phrase is a mantra. Because of the guy you think should be allowed to relax in a retirement home. And forgotten.

NEVER FUCKING FORGET.


That is the entire point.



Fuuuuuuuuuu


I'm out. This is literally insane.
 

Bombadil

Banned
Punishment of an individual is irrelevant. The lesson we must ALWAYS teach ourselves is literally NEVER FORGET.

That is why that phrase is a mantra. Because of the guy you think should be allowed to relax in a retirement home. And forgotten.

NEVER FUCKING FORGET.


That is the entire point.



Fuuuuuuuuuu


I'm out. This is literally insane.

And how many people on Gaf posted about the Armenian Genocide on April 24?

Did you? I was one of the few people continually bumping that thread so it could gain traction.

Don't get all up in arms out of principle. Everyone here has chosen to forget things.
 

ymoc

Member
I am not Jewish so I'll never fully understand the horrors of WWII but I am happy to see that another war criminal as been found. And IMO, he should be prosecuted, no matter his age. But that's just me. I am known to hold grudges haha. But for me, this is great news.

Say what?
 
And how many people on Gaf posted about the Armenian Genocide on April 24?

Did you? I was one of the few people continually bumping that thread so it could gain traction.

Don't get all up in arms out of principle. Everyone here has chosen to forget things.

But some people in this thread seem to want to forgive and forget. There is not an expiration date on shit.
 
Are you people insane?

I don't care if the guy is old, he still stands accused of atrocities. Enough time has been wasted, and we owe it to the people who died because of him to make him answer for his crimes.
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
And how many people on Gaf posted about the Armenian Genocide on April 24?

Did you? I was one of the few people continually bumping that thread so it could gain traction.

Don't get all up in arms out of principle. Everyone here has chosen to forget things.

This thread is about WWII.

Your goal posts are made of strawman and you're an entire world war off the subject.

Has anyone in this thread belittled the Armenian genocide? Has anyone here suggested we let bygones be bygones about a completely unrelated incident? Because you are inferring its OK to dismiss a far greater, far more recent loss of human life.
 
Conflicting stories

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/14/michaelkarcok-revelations-nazi-leader-minneapolis_n_3443784.html

An Associated Press investigation found that 94-year-old Michael Karkoc served as a top commander in the Ukrainian Self-Defense Legion during World War II. The unit is accused of wartime atrocities, including the burning of villages filled with women and children. Wartime records don't show that Karkoc had a direct hand in war crimes, though records indicate he lied about his military past when immigrating to the U.S.

so which is it? the OP or this?
 
Guy was just following orders.

One has to remember the victor always writes history.

Had we lost ww2 the people who decided to nuke Japan would have been labeled war criminals also.
 

Bombadil

Banned
This thread is about WWII.

Your goal posts are made of strawman and you're an entire world war off the subject.

Has anyone in this thread belittled the Armenian genocide? Has anyone here suggested we let bygones be bygones about a completely unrelated incident? Because you are inferring its OK to dismiss a far greater, far more recent loss of human life.

So recency has something to do with it, then?

Well, in my point of view it's not recent enough. World War 2 was 70 years ago. The man is near death. Any attempt to exact justice now would just be petty.
 

KorrZ

Member
Following orders? He was a commander of an SS unit. He was the one gladly gladly getting and giving the orders to mass murder. He wasn't some fucking random German enlisted in the army.

Edit: Oh, it was a joke? My bad.

You don't know this. You have no idea how he personally felt about any of the orders he was given to carry out. Disobeying direct orders wasn't treated too favourably in the Nazi regime I would imagine. That's not to take away the idea of personal responsibility...but I hate the fact that everyone thinks it would be just so simple black and white, refuse the orders and walk away and go get a cup of tea back at your house.
 

jtb

Banned
So recency has something to do with it, then?

Well, in my point of view it's not recent enough. World War 2 was 70 years ago. The man is near death. Any attempt to exact justice now would just be petty.

How is it petty? What makes bringing this man to justice any different from bring any other criminal to justice?
 
So recency has something to do with it, then?

Well, in my point of view it's not recent enough. World War 2 was 70 years ago. The man is near death. Any attempt to exact justice now would just be petty.

I honestly see where you're coming from, but an example has to be made. It might seem petty, but it's necessary. He's gotta pay.
 

Duji

Member
So recency has something to do with it, then?

Well, in my point of view it's not recent enough. World War 2 was 70 years ago. The man is near death. Any attempt to exact justice now would just be petty.
We have to think about the message we're giving other people who have committed appalling acts of evil. "You're free if you manage to get away with it after X years!" is clearly not the right message.
 
Punishment of an individual is irrelevant. The lesson we must ALWAYS teach ourselves is literally NEVER FORGET.

That is why that phrase is a mantra. Because of the guy you think should be allowed to relax in a retirement home. And forgotten.

NEVER FUCKING FORGET.


That is the entire point.



Fuuuuuuuuuu


I'm out. This is literally insane.
What does forgetting have to do with hurting someone? I know what he did, I just don't see the point in hurting him for it.

If someone is a rapist, it makes some kind of sense to put that person on trial so that he/she can't continue to hurt people. That's the point of prison, in my opinion. This guy is not going to do anything, so why would we go out of our way to hurt him now? What is it helping? Especially since you don't know what he has been through. Does he regret his actions, etc.?
 

F0rneus

Tears in the rain
Say what?
I think my post is easy enough to understand, no? I think we can all understand and judge that the Nazis did through WWII but no, I don't think I can fully measure the impact, as a Jewish person can. My people never underwent genocide, so I don't think my understanding of the matter is the same as Jewish people. But let's not derail the thread shall we? Let's just celebrate the unmasking of a war criminal. Or let's lament the persecution of an old man if that's your POV.
 

jtb

Banned
What does forgetting have to do with hurting someone? I know what he did, I just don't see the point in hurting him for it.

If someone is a rapist, it makes some kind of sense to put that person on trial so that he/she can't continue to hurt people. That's the point of prison, in my opinion. This guy is not going to do anything, so why would we go out of our way to hurt him now? What is it helping? Especially since you don't know what he has been through. Does he regret his actions, etc.?

Well, then I'd say you have a very different conception of justice than the prevailing view. The definition of justice is to give each their due. Hence, crime is inherently tied to punishment—but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. That's the very purpose of justice. You commit a "wrong" action, then society punishes you because you are due a corresponding negative consequence.

And in this case, there is no statute of limitations (I can only speak on the US at least) on heinous crimes like murder so I certainly don't see a problem with some kind of trial/punishment for this man.
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
So recency has something to do with it, then?

Well, in my point of view it's not recent enough. World War 2 was 70 years ago. The man is near death. Any attempt to exact justice now would just be petty.

Whoosh. I brought up the time difference because YOU are suggesting that there is some expiry date on the reperussions of evil.
 

Bombadil

Banned
We have to think about the message we're giving other people who have committed appalling acts of evil. "You're free if you manage to get away with it after X years!" is clearly not the right message.

You guys want to bring justice against a 24 year old war criminal who doesn't exist anymore. In his place is a frail man who probably wears Depends because he can't tell when he needs to go anymore. Label him a war criminal. Put a sign in front of his house that marks him for who he is. But leave him be.

Whoosh. I brought up the time difference because YOU are suggesting that there is some expiry date on the reperussions of evil.

I'm being realistic.
 

Falcs

Banned
What is the point in hurting him? People inclined toward punishment for the sake of punishment are disturbing.
Punishment. You commit a crime, you should be punished. Doesn't matter how old you are.

So recency has something to do with it, then?

Well, in my point of view it's not recent enough. World War 2 was 70 years ago. The man is near death. Any attempt to exact justice now would just be petty.
So what. By this logic, a man dieing of cancer who goes on a shooting spree when he has 5weeks to live should be let free.
Fuck that.
I say punish the old bastard.
 

vazel

Banned
This guy should definitely be investigated and tried. Otherwise other war criminals will think it's fine to commit their crimes as long as they can hide until they reach an old and infirm age.

War criminals should live with the paranoia that they can be caught one day no matter how far into the future. Josef Mengele was never caught but he lived a notoriously paranoid life because of the fear that he would be caught; that paranoia at least caused him some discomfort.
 

jtb

Banned
You guys want to bring justice against a 24 year old war criminal who doesn't exist anymore. In his place is a frail man who probably wears Depends because he can't tell when he needs to go anymore. Label him a war criminal. Put a sign in front of his house that marks him for who he is. But leave him be.

He doesn't exist anymore? Bullshit. He's the same guy, except he didn't pay for his crimes the first time around. Hell, he should be delighted he got to live a full (presumably fulfilling) life before he pays for them this time around. I don't care if he's forgiven himself or it torments him at night; he has a duty to society (in this case, the world society) that has yet to be fulfilled.
 

LEGGZZZZ

Member
What does forgetting have to do with hurting someone? I know what he did, I just don't see the point in hurting him for it.

If someone is a rapist, it makes some kind of sense to put that person on trial so that he/she can't continue to hurt people. That's the point of prison, in my opinion. This guy is not going to do anything, so why would we go out of our way to hurt him now? What is it helping? Especially since you don't know what he has been through. Does he regret his actions, etc.?

Haha, wow. This is amazing.
 
"Find this guy and lynch him!" says the crowd of Americans caring about a war's atrocities that went on about 70 years ago while letting their own army decimate people everyday in foreign countries.

You gotta admire this nation's capacity for self-delusion. Seriously, there's barely anyone alive who suffered through World War 2, isn't it time to focus on humanity's current atrocities instead of dwelling on memories?
 
I have to say that the opinions of some people in here disgust me.

We have to think about the message we're giving other people who have committed appalling acts of evil. "You're free if you manage to get away with it after X years!" is clearly not the right message.

Yup, there shouldn't be an expiration date for doing things like this:
s54-juden-organisiertes-verbrechen-540x304.jpg


F0rneus said:
I think my post is easy enough to understand, no? I think we can all understand and judge that the Nazis did through WWII but no, I don't think I can fully measure the impact, as a Jewish person can. My people never underwent genocide, so I don't think my understanding of the matter is the same as Jewish people. But let's not derail the thread shall we? Let's just celebrate the unmasking of a war criminal. Or let's lament the persecution of an old man if that's your POV.

Let's not forget that not only Jewish people were persecuted and murdered during the Nazi occupation of Europe.

Bombadil said:
You guys want to bring justice against a 24 year old war criminal who doesn't exist anymore. In his place is a frail man who probably wears Depends because he can't tell when he needs to go anymore. Label him a war criminal. Put a sign in front of his house that marks him for who he is. But leave him be.

Even at his advanced age, he came to the door without help of a cane or a walker.

Yup, sure seems like a frail man.
 

Raiden

Banned
What does forgetting have to do with hurting someone? I know what he did, I just don't see the point in hurting him for it.

If someone is a rapist, it makes some kind of sense to put that person on trial so that he/she can't continue to hurt people. That's the point of prison, in my opinion. This guy is not going to do anything, so why would we go out of our way to hurt him now? What is it helping? Especially since you don't know what he has been through. Does he regret his actions, etc.?

Good reasoning. Maybe we should free some murderers because its not like they're going to kill the same person again is it?

Some people dont deserve to walk the earth and have human rights. Thats what prison is for.
 

jtb

Banned
"Find this guy and lynch him!" says the crowd of Americans caring about a war's atrocities that went on about 70 years ago while letting their own army decimate people everyday in foreign countries.

You gotta admire this nation's capacity for self-delusion. Seriously, there's barely anyone alive who suffered through World War 2, isn't it time to focus on humanity's current atrocities instead of dwelling on memories?

The two aren't mutually exclusive.
 

Valnen

Member
"Find this guy and lynch him!" says the crowd of Americans caring about a war's atrocities that went on about 70 years ago while letting their own army decimate people everyday in foreign countries.

You gotta admire this nation's capacity for self-delusion. Seriously, there's barely anyone alive who suffered through World War 2, isn't it time to focus on humanity's current atrocities instead of dwelling on memories?

Letting him get away with this sends a message that genocide is okay as long as you can evade authorities long enough.
 
Come on, seriously? I can't even be bothered going into why you're all wrong because anyone with common sense and good morals knows why this man must face justice.

"He was involved in mass slaughter but awwwww, he's wrinkly" isn't acceptable.
There is no justice, only revenge.
 
This is the most chilling thread I've ever read. A defence force assembling and calling for a nazi war criminal to be let off for crimes against humanity just cause he's old. The thought of how many idiots like yourselves out there who are most assuredly not learning from history and forgetting what the nazis actually did to people is frankly terrifying. And there is even a post throwing up the "he was probably just following orders" excuse! No words.
 

Rubixcuba

Banned
Guy was just following orders.

One has to remember the victor always writes history.

Had we lost ww2 the people who decided to nuke Japan would have been labeled war criminals also.

Ah yes the Nuremberg Defence, So I imagine every Nazi besides Hitler were just following the Fuhrer's orders then?

There is also heavy debate that Truman and other should be branded war criminals for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 

diamount

Banned
This is the most chilling thread I've ever read. A defence force assembling and calling for a nazi war criminal to be let off for crimes against humanity just cause he's old. The thought of how many idiots like yourselves out there who are most assuredly not learning from history and forgetting what the nazis actually did to people is frankly terrifying. And there is even a post throwing up the "he was just following orders" excuse! No words.

Why hasn't the guy who murdered a dozen civilians in Afghanistan not being executed? Why hasn't the countless dictators backed by the US who massacre and continue to massacre their civilians not being brought to justice and executed?
 
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