Why this discussion is relavant in the contemporary context is because for example, a few Muslims from Asia and Africa, flew aeroplanes into American buldings killing about 5000 users. So bombing of Afghan and Iraqi cities and villages is justified, killing many times more civilians, women and children included. Is that not a continuation of the philosophy that Dickens' espoused. Kill all non-whites/non-Christians they are vermin, and deserve extermination.