Suchergebnisse

Miss Lucie Odier has asked to be relieved of her duties and the International Committee has taken note of her resignation with the greatest regret.

Mr. Carl J. Burckhardt, member of the ICRC, has recently asked to be relieved of his duties. This resignation was announced by Mr. S. A. Gonard, the President, at a plenary session of the International Committee of the Red Cross, on January 6, 1965. A ceremony took place on that occasion at which were present many members of the ICRC, directors and heads of Services, as well as some who had worked especially closely with Mr. Burckhardt.

First published in Politik, Wissenschaft, Erziehung. Festschrift fur Ernst Schutte ([Politics, Science, Education. Homage to Ernst Schutte], Frankfurt, 1969). A reply to the objection raised against the older members of the Frankfurt School that they doubt the possibility of radical social change & thus take no part in & do not advise violent action, but rather, restrict themselves to simply thinking. The subordination of theory to praxis is analyzed. Fear is seen as the basis of intolerance toward a thought not accompanied by action. Pseudo-activity & the 'do-it-yourself' syndrome are discussed. Thinking is viewed as a prefiguration of praxis which is closer to a praxis involving true change than a position of obedience to a collective for the sake of praxis. A. Rubins.

Arguments in favor of the topmost senior officers exercising "principled resignation" in opposition to policies, decisions, or orders that they find immoral, unethical, or disastrous for the country weaken the military profession and endanger American national security. A member of the Joint Chiefs, a combatant commander, or a topmost war commander who "resigns" would be injecting themselves improperly into a policy role, opposing civilian authority, and undermining civilian control of the military. The act would be politicizing for the military and likely fail to change what the officer opposes. Most importantly, their act of personal conscience would poison civil–military relations long into the future; civilian trust in military subordinates not to undermine support for policies and decisions with the public and other political leaders would decline. Even more than today, they would choose their senior military leaders for compatibility and agreement above other traits.