ABSTRACT
The destructive effect of the "privatization" has been the devaluation of public service to just another arena in which one can achieve essentially private ambitions. "Careerism" has been substituted for idealism. The patriotism of benevolence is too idealistic, as if idealism had no place in the public service. The ideal of American democracy assumes that a special relationship should exist between public servants and citizens. This chapter examines the actions of public servants and citizens toward the Jews in Germany and Denmark during World War II, because the conduct of the Danes stands as a paradigmatic example of the patriotism of benevolence. The creation of the vast killing centers in Eastern Europe, all of the significant bureaucrats knew what was happening to the Jews. In Denmark, the actions of the bureaucracy were distinguished by moral heroism in the service of democratic values.
