From: m (mt_2@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Sep 17 1999 - 22:31:08 MDT
--- Skye Howard <skyezacharia@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Though
> in some cases it may be violence on the politician's
> part. Towards that end, my question would also
> extend. How could Hitler go forward with the
> Holocaust, for example? How can our world leaders
> today go forward with their battles? What causes
> people to listen to them? (not part of my question
> really, but I had to go for it- I was on a roll,
> almost).
I am sitting here watching this part of the world
(Australia/Indonesia) play with disaster. So it is
much on my mind.
1.) IMHO, there can be an active, deliberate
suspension of rationality, and a taking-up of
rhetoric.
2.) I'm sorry to say that many people seem to be in
attracted to violence. Look at the content of our
videos/movies/books/etc. Even if these don't influence
people, what sells says something.
3.) There is also fear, and fear can be a runaway
process, overtaking the mind. Once people are fearful,
they can be made to agree to almost anything :(.
4.) Traditional hatreds, ignorance, dogmatism,
stereotyping, "groupthink", identification, etc.
5.) Economic interest being placed above all else.
6.) Laziness. Unwillingness to look at alternatives to
violence.
7.) Reliance on leaders to solve our problems. Wanting
a "strong man" figure.
8.) Frustration.
9.) Plain Meanness.
This whole mess is fanned by the would-be leaders.
Anyone who protests may be castigated or intimidated,
and there is, I guess, a whole tangle of memes that
can be activated in the service of violence.
Maybe the whole human race needs "something useful to
do with its hands". Well there ARE useful things to
do, but many of them are regarded with contempt.
But there are people who try to do positive things,
one has to remember this. Dwelling on violence can be
destructive itself.
Feeding/educating people would be a start.
Sorry if this is depressing !
Michael
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