Honest question: have the perpetrators of the worst atrocities ever not thought they were the good guys, doing the right thing?
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If you think "but they were wrong/misinformed/deluded/deceived/misunderstood/meant well/were secretly evil," you're missing the point.
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An exaggeration, for certain, but far closer to truth than people tend to admit.
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Atrocities by criminal gangs. I doubt that people who murder journalists or children in Mexico think what they're doing is right.
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Most of the ones that come to mind seem likely to have thought so… Hitler, for example. Probably Mao (if you include him).
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Not so sure about Stalin across the board, but broadly speaking I think he had a mission that he thought was good.



