GRGR: Todorov and Clendinnen on the Holocaust

[Richard Romeo]

>
>In most cases the Jews of the
> > Ghetto sacrificed themselves for a very different reason: to choose the
> > manner and moment of their own deaths, rather than to remain passive
> > victims of systematic extermination.
> >   "For Todorov the latter mode of heroism is morally preferable.
---------------------------
A slight over-generalization.  I remember seeing a documentary two years ago 
about the Warsaw Ghetto, focusing on the exploits and remembrances of a one 
survivor whose name I forget.  This man's descriptions of hiding in the 
sewers with a motley band of survivors gave this viewer a shining example of 
heroism.  This man reiterated the notion that one always has to have hope, 
despite such stirring anecdotes about having to leave comrades behind to 
certain death to save his group, or the screams of the folks being burned 
alive that one lady is reminded of when she sees the rising sun everyday.  
My point here is that these heroics were done by individuals who wanted to 
survive, not giving to the grim arithmetic of their situation (and grim it 
was).

what the heck is  morally preferable mean?

rich

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