Katz - The Ethic of Expediency

This article was eye opening, and somewhat startling from the beginning. After I realized the memo at the beginning of the article was Just's ideas on how to more efficiently transport Jews to concentration camps I felt like I was struck by lightening. The way he nonchalantly describes human beings as merchandise, and acts like they're merely things being moved around was very startling. And, sadly enough, very relevant to today's political climate.

The "group think" that Katz discusses at the beginning of the article is very much alive today thanks to the resurgence of racism and fascism in America. All over the internet, and even on TV from our very own government, we see that group think come alive in writings and speeches. Sometimes it's disguised as actual policy, but most times it's openly discussed as though there is nothing wrong with it.

As writers and rhetoricians we must always be aware of underlying biases we might hold and attempt to avoid those when writing. If those biases might be harmful to a greater good that is. Just's memo was a perfect example of a technical document, but the idea that being more efficient in killing underlying that memo is pure evil. Though it wasn't seen as such through his eyes, or through the eyes of his peers. It is very scary to think that something like this could still go on today.