Comparing one’s group’s offenses to worse deeds of others is a moral defense

Evidence

I asked my girlfriend, “How dare you (an American) raise the issue of these teeny tiny camps when you have dropped atomic bombs over two cities?” — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2085

Categorization

• CANDY: A sharp, humanizing anecdote that perfectly illustrates the comparative moral-defense move — guilt via relative ranking.
• XREF: connects to: Privileged innocence is purchased at the cost of others’ suffering — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 167; People excuse immorality from in-group members arbitrarily defined — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 102; Urging patience on others for injustice one does not endure is immoral — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 743 (+2 more)