[aaronem]

A moment's thought, had you paused to engage in same, would've led you to realize that Ukrainian grandmothers today were, in youth, governed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, whose regime was never particularly noted for the extent of the freedom of conscience and action it extended to its subjects.

[joyeuse6701]

I'm well aware of that part of history, given that I am Polish, And my main issue is the narrative of the article: 'innocent grandma' vs. 'ignorant thug kids'. As they say, sons bear the sins of their father.

and really a downvote? Did anyone read between the lines of that post and not sense the propaganda?

[elohesra]

Recursively apply Joyeuse's point until you hit a generation that wasn't coerced into making bad choices. Joyeuse's main point was that we can't blame a younger generation and simultaneously vindicate the preceding generation. This does seem to hold true.

[aaronem]

I suppose, in the wake of the Nürnberg Assizes, it makes sense to argue in this fashion. But I've never been all that strongly convinced by the argument that "only following orders" is never a defense, especially as applied to civilians; it seems to require of every human a degree of moral fiber which has never been commonly found at any point in history.

Had these grandmothers, in their youth, rebelled against their rulers, they'd have failed, and even those who survived would've been abused in every imaginable fashion. How does this imply that they're at fault for the abuse they suffer at the hands of their grandchildren's cohort today?