I agree with you. Furthermore, it’s a step down the path of genocide. If your opponent is not human, why do they deserve human rights? They’re a dangerous animal. You wouldn’t let a dangerous animal live.
While I do agree with you, the more information that comes out of this war and what Russian soldiers do to the citizens of Ukraine, the less empathy there is.
And I’m empty. After hearing about the rape and murder of men, women, and children by Russian hands.
The reason you don’t dehumanize people who commit atrocities isn’t (mainly) because they deserve more empathy. It’s because it’s important not to forget that these atrocities are committed by everyday humans. Normal I have a wife and kids, I joined the army as a kid out of high school or after being a warehouse clerk for a few years, I coach soccer in the summers, basic-ass humans.
When we dehumanize people like that it blinds us to the fact normal people can commit atrocities when sufficiently radicalized and trained to dehumanize others. It blinds us to the dangers posed by these ideologies when they’re in their initial stages.
When we dehumanize people like that it also mentally prepares us to accept when atrocities are committed against them, or even to become complicit in doing so.
You don’t humanize them for them. You do it to protect you and everyone you love from the dangers of dehumanizing others.
Removed by mod
I agree with you. Furthermore, it’s a step down the path of genocide. If your opponent is not human, why do they deserve human rights? They’re a dangerous animal. You wouldn’t let a dangerous animal live.
While I do agree with you, the more information that comes out of this war and what Russian soldiers do to the citizens of Ukraine, the less empathy there is.
And I’m empty. After hearing about the rape and murder of men, women, and children by Russian hands.
Fuck em. Those aren’t humans. Those are monsters.
Removed by mod
The reason you don’t dehumanize people who commit atrocities isn’t (mainly) because they deserve more empathy. It’s because it’s important not to forget that these atrocities are committed by everyday humans. Normal I have a wife and kids, I joined the army as a kid out of high school or after being a warehouse clerk for a few years, I coach soccer in the summers, basic-ass humans.
When we dehumanize people like that it blinds us to the fact normal people can commit atrocities when sufficiently radicalized and trained to dehumanize others. It blinds us to the dangers posed by these ideologies when they’re in their initial stages.
When we dehumanize people like that it also mentally prepares us to accept when atrocities are committed against them, or even to become complicit in doing so.
You don’t humanize them for them. You do it to protect you and everyone you love from the dangers of dehumanizing others.