Chance Quote by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
“Can one be a follower of Jesus Christ... have countries attacked. The lives, reputations and possessions of people destroyed and on the slight chance of the presence of a few criminals in a village, city, or convoy for example, the entire village, city or convoy set ablaze.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political address, 2009, Iran
Violence against civilians is justified by fear of a few criminals, leading to widespread destruction.
In simple terms: Fear of few leads to mass violence.
Key Takeaway
Question moral justification of collective punishment.
Themes
war
ethics
collective guilt
terrorism
human rights
Mood
critical
serious
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- military operations
- counterterrorism policy
- humanitarian crises
Key Concepts
just war theory
political rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to target entire communities?
- What alternatives exist to address criminal threats?
A Different Perspective
Collective punishment violates moral law.
