So tell me...if we as a species learned that the human race was doomed because one of our races was hell bent on destroying others at any cost - would you condone genocide to save everyone else?

what you describe sounds more like a war, not a genocide.

I am by no means a pacifist. Living in Germany I know from our history that some people can't be talked to. People like Hitler and his followers. But some people CAN be talked to. There is never an entire race lost to evil. If we submit into that thinking we BECOME the very demon we fight. And on top, any power acting that way, no matter the reasons, would only multiply war, it would make competitors to enemies and enemies to fanatics. No, that is never the way.

I've experienced first hand what people refer to as "ethnic clensing" where certain people were killed because of their beliefs or creeds.  I think this is wrong especially since you can't pigeon hole an entire people based on the views of the few or vice versa.  There are good and bad people everywhere and to this day I've never seen a reason to warrant an extermination of any particular race or people as a whole.

Can we change this question so it is more similar to the Enders game Saga with the Buggers.  You have an entire race that is only one mind and it is bent on killing you(deviate from the book some).  You have a device that destroys their homeworld and the location of the Queen.  Who wants to launch that Dr. Device?

Never

1.) True genocide is not necessary to defeat such a movement.

2.) Individual citizens of a particular race cannot be held accountable for the actions of others.

3.) Attempted genocide is an almost impossible task to complete.

As for the Ender's Game scenario (great books guys, get reading), that heavily depends upon the nature and psychology of the opposing race. If communication in some form is possible and an accord (however unlikely) may be reached, then no, for much the same reasons as above. If otherwise, and one had better be damn sure of it, I'd pull the trigger myself.

Originally posted by Teala

So tell me...if we as a species learned that the human race was doomed because one of our races was hell bent on destroying others at any cost - would you condone genocide to save everyone else?

 

A Catch 22 question.

Isn't anyone who answers "yes" a member of that very same race that needs to be exterminated for the greater good of humanity?

And by saying that aren't I now one as well?

The Germans made a very persuasive argument for genocide. The Yugoslavians also. And the Rwandans.

It's the sort of argument that may come back and bite you. If you lose that kind of a war, you may lose everything.

An enemy bent on the total genocide is not going to recieve a lot of mercy if he loses. Far better to stick to the Geneva convention and hope your enemy remembers your leniency and mercy should your campaign against him go awry.

It's not possible to win every war. Plan not just for your victory, but also your defeat.

Never mind reread the post after food in belly and brain slightly on and i got it ;p

as far as the Question... No idea. Flip side is would that posably screw us even more later on?

Hey lets add another twist here, lets say that artificial people are created (some of you may vaguely recall a show called space above and beyond with these humans that were created in tanks) and for whatever reason are slated to be killed.  Pick a reason, charismatic leader telling them to kill the firstborns or perhaps humans deciding that these creations are all failures and need to be destroyed.  In the case of artificial life which may arguable be nothing more than an incredible similuation of humanity, does it qualify as genocide?

What race?

Originally posted by sepher

What race?

the LIBERAL race.

Originally posted by olddaddy

Originally posted by sepher

What race?

 

the LIBERAL race.

This made me smile. I was thinking the same thing when I saw the title.

Originally posted by Dekron

Originally posted by olddaddy

Originally posted by sepher

What race?

 

the LIBERAL race.

This made me smile. I was thinking the same thing when I saw the title.

if you dont limit it to race , we already have ...

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Originally posted by Teala
So tell me...if we as a species learned that the human race was doomed because one of our races was hell bent on destroying others at any cost - would you condone genocide to save everyone else?
 

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It was a hypothetical question and I am curious.

at one point in our history there were two species of human living together here ... there is only one today.

wasnt just us , but its becoming evident to historians that we DID actively take part in their disappearance.

So would the question be better put as would it be ok a second time?

What is sad is that we ALL here find it incomprehensible to even consider it for real...  Yet Only just over 60 years ago a man with power tried to do exactly that!  AND... he convinced a nation to follow his vision...even MORE scary a thought that so many would simply ignore that inner tug on the human heart.

That being said, I don't think we'll see a race ever threatened again except OUR race...the HUMAN race.  We're poised for some super bug to wipe us all out just like The Stand or some other form of disease.  Or perhaps we'll actually create a device that just blows our planet away, by accident...  (we ARE a type 13 planet ya know  :P  )   Can anyone say Super-Collider?   (in case anyone missed it, it was a reference to LEXX)

There are alot of potential horrible things facing us as a race.  If one group of people feels threatened enough, they'll do things only humans can think of doing to other humans, and I'm not talking about GOOD things.       ...but...  There is always a good guy.

Originally posted by Teala

So tell me...if we as a species learned that the human race was doomed because one of our races was hell bent on destroying others at any cost - would you condone genocide to save everyone else?

Taking the question for what it is (on the generalized side) and not going into details of "what if's" and what factors were involved, I would say, yes, that extermination of a 'race', culture or nationality of humans in order to protect or save the rest would be acceptable. 

Now hopefully the side which seeks the destruction of the many, there will be some who do not have such a viewpoint and would rally if given the support.  But otherwise, a complete destruction of a region may be needed.

I'll give on example, if a certain nation or organization had developed a Super Military Grade Small Pox virus capable of causing a Pandemic, and threatens to use such a weapon to eliminate their enemies; then I would provide support in the use of WMD's to see to their destruction.  Sucks for such a situation to occur, but such last resort methods are carried out due to failure of preventive actions and policies.

Another example would be of WW2 with the US using atomic weapons against Japan.  I would have supported such a decision given the significant additional amount of lives that would have been lost on both sides if the bombs had not been used.

Originally posted by Dracus

Originally posted by Teala

So tell me...if we as a species learned that the human race was doomed because one of our races was hell bent on destroying others at any cost - would you condone genocide to save everyone else?

Taking the question for what it is (on the generalized side) and not going into details of "what if's" and what factors were involved, I would say, yes, that extermination of a 'race', culture or nationality of humans in order to protect or save the rest would be acceptable. 

Now hopefully the side which seeks the destruction of the many, there will be some who do not have such a viewpoint and would rally if given the support.  But otherwise, a complete destruction of a region may be needed.

I'll give on example, if a certain nation or organization had developed a Super Military Grade Small Pox virus capable of causing a Pandemic, and threatens to use such a weapon to eliminate their enemies; then I would provide support in the use of WMD's to see to their destruction.  Sucks for such a situation to occur, but such last resort methods are carried out due to failure of preventive actions and policies.

Another example would be of WW2 with the US using atomic weapons against Japan.  I would have supported such a decision given the significant additional amount of lives that would have been lost on both sides if the bombs had not been used.

We're talking about race not countries or regions, human races are spread out all over the world.