It is the fundamental duty of the citizen to resist and to restrain the violence of the state. Those who choose to disregard this responsibility can justly be accused of complicity in war crimes, which is itself designated as 'a crime under international law' in the principles of the Charter of Nuremberg.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Chomsky states that citizens have a duty to resist state violence to avoid complicity in war crimes.
- In plain terms
- Citizens must stop state violence to avoid being guilty of war crimes.
- What can you take from it?
- Citizens are morally responsible for opposing state violence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are your duties to your country?
- How do you resist state violence?
Another view
The duty may be difficult or dangerous for ordinary citizens to fulfill.
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