I’ve been alerted by Devil’s Kitchen of this article on the BBC news website.
It concerns M. Maurice Papon, who in 1998 was convicted of crimes against humanity for his role in the arrest and deportation of Jews during World War II. He also served in the French civil service in Algeria during the Algerian War - a war in which many atrocities were committed, probably with the knowledge of the civil service.
DK is disgusted by the article, and the apparent praise it gives M. Papon. I agree with this, the article almost treats Papon as a misunderstood character and lauds his commitment to the service of the state, no matter what that entailed. That does not absolve anyone of responsibility, even thinking that the right thing was being done does not absolve anyone of responsibility for their actions. The article has a hint of that all too prevalent sentiment amongst non-liberals (especially the left, but the right indulges in it too) that if the sentiment or aim was right then no matter what the outcome it doesn’t really matter.
The fact that blind service to the state is wrong both morally and practically is the other point this article misses. You may be able to morally justify actions if you believe them to be the correct actions (although the results are not then necessarily moral), but blind subservience is simply wrong, you were following orders is no excuse (there is a grey area around being coerced into doing things, but following orders does not entail coercion).
The state is not a representative of the general good, it is not an omniscient entity which will always make the right choices. The state does not merit blind service, indeed, to do simply what you are told by your superiors in the state structure in the name of serving the state will lead to doing things which are not justifiable.
