Thank you for this excellent dissection of a phenomenon that is indeed essential (the dรฉshumanisation of the other) which underlies the acceptance by its authors first, but also by all the active or passive accomplices of this monstrous enterprise. This emotional distancing allows them to build a shield impermeable to the heart, to reason, and a distorting mirror that projects a reassuring self-image, and a reinforced self-esteem allowing a self-granted preemptive redemption. This process of dehumanization begins, of course, with an over-appreciation of oneself, a fundamental feeling of superiority vis-ร -vis its protagonists. Examples abound of these civil, religious and military personalities who emphasize the superiority of their ๐ง๐๐๐e over the ๐๐ค๐ฎ๐๐ข๐จ who are barely distinguishable (according to them) from animals. In any case, this dehumanization is a process that opens the way to the serious excesses we are witnessing and represents the major symptom of a dystopia and behavioral aberrations that are witnesses to a sociopathy that affects Israeli society but also all its accomplices throughout the world. This highly transmissible disease is called ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!....
Glad you found it helpful. The writers did an excellent job. Your comment adds an additional valuable insight: "This emotional distancing allows them to build a shield impermeable to the heart, to reason, and a distorting mirror that projects a reassuring self-image, and a reinforced self-esteem allowing a self-granted preemptive redemption."
Genocide is in the DNA of the Amerikkkan people. Without genocide Amerikkka would not exist.
And in todayโs parlance, the likes of Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Tecumseh and countless others would be considered โterroristsโ for defending their lives and land.
I live near a sacred Chippewa burial ground. My farm was once THEIR land. I try to honor them as much as possible by respecting both the earth and their memory, but itโs not enough.
I think there is a curious/tragic irony at work. I remember seeing video of that wounded child on CBS evening news and the other two TV networks. There were only three networks at that time and the War Dept. let reporters and photographers get up to the frontlines and on patrols. The War Dept. was proud of what they were doing, underestimating how it nauseated more and more people, swelling the antiwar movement. The Mai Lai Massacre coverage ripped away any last pretense of Vietnam being a "just' war.
So now here we are decades later and there is a buzzing beehive of all kinds of media and people tend to cocoon themselves within media echo chambers or just lose themselves in doom scrolling YouTube videos of dancing chickens. We have more media and -- generally -- a less informed public. It's impossible now for a majority of people getting the same image or unifying message.
In 1981 then CIA director William Casey declared: "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."
Mission accomplished.
I'm not sure what an effective response is to that tragic reality.
We have behind us 75 years of movies, books, docu-dramas, interviews and countless hours of TV presenting Israelis as hero/survivors and worthy of all respect and deference. I certainly fell for it and it wasnโt until about 10 years ago I realized how bad the conditions were in Palestine. Reading Jimmy Carterโs book went a long way to opening my eyes.
A good friend whoโs intelligent and kind genuinely believes this is a religious war and America is right to support Israel against terrorists. And she is by no means alone in this community I live in.
I have not read the Carter book. I've heard it is pretty good. We have all been so propagandized. If you haven't already read it, Tony Greensteins book on Zionism is excellent. I did an earlier post on it. There's a good in-depth video interview in the post. He has awakened me to the true nature and history of Zionism: "Jewish Scholar's Book Reveals Zionism's Fascist Roots & Close Collaborative Role With Nazi Regime" ... https://mark192.substack.com/p/jewish-scholars-book-reveals-zionisms
"This hesitancy [by the mainstream media] suggests that Palestinian lives are worth less than others in similar conflicts."
To think this sort of twisted, immoral emotional manipulation is still occurring after so many decades of "Don't forget the Holocaust!" If we haven't figured out that ALL human lives are worthy by now, perhaps there's no hope for us. Beam me up, Scotty.
You're welcome. They really did an excellent job and even with my professional background in psych gave me some context and perspective I hadn't thought of. Glad you can use it.
Thank you for this excellent dissection of a phenomenon that is indeed essential (the dรฉshumanisation of the other) which underlies the acceptance by its authors first, but also by all the active or passive accomplices of this monstrous enterprise. This emotional distancing allows them to build a shield impermeable to the heart, to reason, and a distorting mirror that projects a reassuring self-image, and a reinforced self-esteem allowing a self-granted preemptive redemption. This process of dehumanization begins, of course, with an over-appreciation of oneself, a fundamental feeling of superiority vis-ร -vis its protagonists. Examples abound of these civil, religious and military personalities who emphasize the superiority of their ๐ง๐๐๐e over the ๐๐ค๐ฎ๐๐ข๐จ who are barely distinguishable (according to them) from animals. In any case, this dehumanization is a process that opens the way to the serious excesses we are witnessing and represents the major symptom of a dystopia and behavioral aberrations that are witnesses to a sociopathy that affects Israeli society but also all its accomplices throughout the world. This highly transmissible disease is called ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!....
Glad you found it helpful. The writers did an excellent job. Your comment adds an additional valuable insight: "This emotional distancing allows them to build a shield impermeable to the heart, to reason, and a distorting mirror that projects a reassuring self-image, and a reinforced self-esteem allowing a self-granted preemptive redemption."
I think it's more simple. US has never had a war on it's soil.
Empathy comes from people suffering....finish.
Correct, Jenny, at least since the Civil War which ended in 1865 and was largely confined to a few southern states.
Itโs unfortunate that we need war on our own soil in order to empathize with those experiencing it themselves but it is a fact that WE DO!
Bit sad really.
Mark:
Genocide is in the DNA of the Amerikkkan people. Without genocide Amerikkka would not exist.
And in todayโs parlance, the likes of Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Tecumseh and countless others would be considered โterroristsโ for defending their lives and land.
I live near a sacred Chippewa burial ground. My farm was once THEIR land. I try to honor them as much as possible by respecting both the earth and their memory, but itโs not enough.
What can be said of a society that once solidified its opposition to a war against another people just by looking at one image? That was 52 years ago.
https://petapixel.com/nick-ut-napalm-girl-photojournalist/
I think there is a curious/tragic irony at work. I remember seeing video of that wounded child on CBS evening news and the other two TV networks. There were only three networks at that time and the War Dept. let reporters and photographers get up to the frontlines and on patrols. The War Dept. was proud of what they were doing, underestimating how it nauseated more and more people, swelling the antiwar movement. The Mai Lai Massacre coverage ripped away any last pretense of Vietnam being a "just' war.
So now here we are decades later and there is a buzzing beehive of all kinds of media and people tend to cocoon themselves within media echo chambers or just lose themselves in doom scrolling YouTube videos of dancing chickens. We have more media and -- generally -- a less informed public. It's impossible now for a majority of people getting the same image or unifying message.
In 1981 then CIA director William Casey declared: "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."
Mission accomplished.
I'm not sure what an effective response is to that tragic reality.
We have behind us 75 years of movies, books, docu-dramas, interviews and countless hours of TV presenting Israelis as hero/survivors and worthy of all respect and deference. I certainly fell for it and it wasnโt until about 10 years ago I realized how bad the conditions were in Palestine. Reading Jimmy Carterโs book went a long way to opening my eyes.
A good friend whoโs intelligent and kind genuinely believes this is a religious war and America is right to support Israel against terrorists. And she is by no means alone in this community I live in.
I have not read the Carter book. I've heard it is pretty good. We have all been so propagandized. If you haven't already read it, Tony Greensteins book on Zionism is excellent. I did an earlier post on it. There's a good in-depth video interview in the post. He has awakened me to the true nature and history of Zionism: "Jewish Scholar's Book Reveals Zionism's Fascist Roots & Close Collaborative Role With Nazi Regime" ... https://mark192.substack.com/p/jewish-scholars-book-reveals-zionisms
"This hesitancy [by the mainstream media] suggests that Palestinian lives are worth less than others in similar conflicts."
To think this sort of twisted, immoral emotional manipulation is still occurring after so many decades of "Don't forget the Holocaust!" If we haven't figured out that ALL human lives are worthy by now, perhaps there's no hope for us. Beam me up, Scotty.
Iโm sorry, we regret to inform you there appears to be a problem with the transponder software.
I suggest everyone rediscovers "The Wall" by Pink Floyd.
Watch the audience after this man has been brainwashed. A movie and music way before it's time.
Thanks so much for this important post, Mark. I'm going to link it to the post I'm writing now.
You're welcome. They really did an excellent job and even with my professional background in psych gave me some context and perspective I hadn't thought of. Glad you can use it.
It's horrible.
It really is. The article is very insightful about the psychological and I would say spiritual impacts of what has and is going on.
Anyone can 'sight' psychological problems BUT unless you have actually seen your own country blown to pieces there never will be empathy.
Watch this and it all makes sense. Most have been brainwashed. The public has been lied to. Video below - The Occupation of the American Mind.
https://youtu.be/ezNqSAIJIOI?feature=shared
Thanks, I'll check it out.