Herbert Marcuse gave a deeply personal and eye-opening commentary on the William Calley Trial, a case that charged Calley with many war-crimes and the killing of approx 109 Vietnamese. In Marcuse's commentary, he questions the core of the average American, pondering if Calley is truly what Americans see as a hero, not a criminal, and furthermore, wondering if public support of Calley's crimes could led to a new policy in the US Armed Service. In the following quotations Marcuse challenges American mind-set:
"Once again we are confronted with that principle of disease justice which was pronounced at Kent State and which expresses so neatly the perversion of the sense of guilt: "not the murderer but the murdered one is guilty"
Marcuse questions the ideals of Americans above. He challenges the "politically correct" rhetoric so common by the American people and dares to accuse Americans of being blood hungry, violent loving people. Is it true though? Is it fair to say Americans are supporters of war-crimes because the enemy is a tough one, an enemy that supports different ideals? I think Marcuse is extreme in thought but I also believe he is deliberately over the top to provoke thought. We all have to take a look at ourselves and our believed and wonder- is it okay to beat the innocent if they are on the side of the enemy? Where is the line draw?