In 1939, roughly two in three Americans opposed admitting twenty thousand refugee children. They were not monsters. Their grandchildren are certain they would have voted the other way.
Thank you for this essay that demands critical thinking and deep introspection. I will be passing it along to several friends & family that will also appreciate your scholarly analysis.
Humans, sadly, have "Us v. Them" encoded in our brains from way back in the evolutionary chain. Once, it helped our family group survive - then our village, town, city, country, etc. Any grouping that can be seen as different from another has been used, no matter how closely split the hair. It is what enables humans to kill other humans whom they have never met and who have done nothing to them personally.
When you "other" a group, no matter what term is used (vermin, scum, pick a racial epithet), that group automatically shifts down the hierarchical ladder in the brain - becoming less human, less worthy than your group.
I am not sure if humans will ever evolve past it as a species. Some have, some will, but as a whole? I can't see it happening. At least not in my lifetime.
Thank you for this essay that demands critical thinking and deep introspection. I will be passing it along to several friends & family that will also appreciate your scholarly analysis.
I am appalled to learn this part of our history which certainly was never taught in school.
It all comes down to the concept of "The Other."
Humans, sadly, have "Us v. Them" encoded in our brains from way back in the evolutionary chain. Once, it helped our family group survive - then our village, town, city, country, etc. Any grouping that can be seen as different from another has been used, no matter how closely split the hair. It is what enables humans to kill other humans whom they have never met and who have done nothing to them personally.
When you "other" a group, no matter what term is used (vermin, scum, pick a racial epithet), that group automatically shifts down the hierarchical ladder in the brain - becoming less human, less worthy than your group.
I am not sure if humans will ever evolve past it as a species. Some have, some will, but as a whole? I can't see it happening. At least not in my lifetime.
Agonizing truths we all should learn, esp in this zero empathy regime. Thank you peter