"Blaming the victim"
I say, "France really should have paid more attention to Hitler's military buildup during the 1930s, and responded more energetically."
I am told, "Ooh, you are blaming the victim of Hitler's aggression!"
No: the French leaders, in failing to adequately defend their nation against German aggression, committed a sin of omission. German leaders, in attacking France, committed a sin of commission. Someone who commits a sin of omission fails to adequately attend to the good. Someone who commits a sin of commission willfully embraces evil. The latter is far more culpable than the former.
Admitting that there are sins of omission in no way shifts the focus of culpability from the aggressor to the victim!
I am told, "Ooh, you are blaming the victim of Hitler's aggression!"
No: the French leaders, in failing to adequately defend their nation against German aggression, committed a sin of omission. German leaders, in attacking France, committed a sin of commission. Someone who commits a sin of omission fails to adequately attend to the good. Someone who commits a sin of commission willfully embraces evil. The latter is far more culpable than the former.
Admitting that there are sins of omission in no way shifts the focus of culpability from the aggressor to the victim!
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