Obviously I'm thinking of all the political leaders who're prepared to sacrifice thousands of lives in the name of some dubious cause or other - territory, power, religion, whatever. They show absolutely no sign of hesitation or conscience or shame but just carry on sending people to their death.
Of course it happens at every level of society, not just at the top. Husbands killing adulterous wives, gangsters murdering other gangsters, fanatics on shooting sprees, racist attacks, honour killings.
The devaluation of other humans implies also a belief in the potency of violence, and the idea that violence can solve problems, which it seldom does. Isn't it obvious that it just leads to more violence, and endless terror for whoever's on the receiving end?
The normal inhibitions that stop most of us resorting to violence are absent in these murderous individuals. Their inhibitions have somehow been suppressed, either by nature or nurture, and sooner or later they cause havoc.
Such people baffle me. I guess their mothers never said, "Imagine: How would you like it if you..."
ReplyDeleteSean: That's certainly part of the explanation, a lack of parental guidance.
DeleteIt's been going on since the beginning of time, but it's still shocking to most of us.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Unfortunately, yes it has. And it never ceases to be shocking and bewildering.
DeleteEspecially appalling when the one sending them to die goes on about a beautiful ballroom and money, then says 'now for the reason we are here'.
ReplyDeleteSandra: Indeed, a pointless vanity project is more important than any number of deaths. A classic sociopath.
Deleteit's not really something we can understand.
ReplyDeleteMary: The normal inhibitions that should come into play simply don't seem to exist.
DeleteInteresting blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's a balance surely. Violence is sometimes necessary and should be proportionate. Quite often, the adversary is in the grip of an ideology/philosophy that says a brighter future is on the horizon where no more injustice or cruelty will be meted out to people.
Liam: Yes, and we all know what usually happens to those brighter futures. All too often they degenerate into repression.
DeleteNick,
ReplyDeletewell the political leaders like Trump and Netanyahu seem not to care about human lives especially when it isn't their own. Human history is a bath of blood, violence and non respect of life unforunately through all nations.
Hannah
Hannah: Too true that history is a bath of blood, violence and non-respect of life. I'm very glad I don't live in one of those countries torn apart by violence.
DeleteDon’t get me started my old friend ………..
ReplyDeleteJohn: Interesting. Have you had some painful personal experiences of war?
DeleteIt has been proposed that, if all governments were made up of only women, war would end.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: I'd like to think that's true. Certainly all the current conflicts are being led by men - Trump, Netanyahu and Putin to name a few.
Delete