Moral justification for the execution of criminals of war?

[bennyboy]

That some preferred form of societal organization doesn't make sense to you simply marks you as being outside of that community.

I once would have taken that as given.  Now, with new media, a new truth has emerged-- it's not the democratic majority that in fact guides the definitional ideas of a society, but rather the wishes of the loudest or most conspicuous members.

And, in fact, it is very common for those who hold ideals they view as virtuous to partly prefer those views in order to separate themselves not only out of, but above, the majority. "I have a superior world view, and I want the majority to wake up to that fact, and to adopt it."

If that weren't true, then one would simply Google how most people in the US feel about the death penalty, discover that the majority were for it, say, "that some preferred form of societal organization doesn't make sense to you simply marks you as being outside of that community," and then drop it.