Judgement and Justice

Last friday in class, Jack Weinstein, the local Facing History and Ourselves director, came to talk to us about what justice means to the victims of the Holocaust. He encouraged us to think deeply about who is responsible, how they should be judged, and how they should be punished. Some questions included: Should participants in "atrocities" during war be punished? Should they be tried before a court of law? Are individuals responsible if they have obeyed laws of a nation? Do some have more responsibility than others? Can an entire nation be guilty? After WWII, the allies had to ponder these questions in the Nuremberg Trials. The charges pressed included: conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. We thought discussed these questions among ourselves, then shared our ideas around the room. This visit by Mr. Weinstein has proved quite insightful.