Humankind has witnessed, participated and borne the brunt of its worst. The past is a record of human vileness – inquisitions, decimation of the indigenous, slavery and caste oppression. In the recent past, many have participated, lived through and survived Nazi extermination camps, genocide in Rwanda, ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, communal riots in Delhi in 1984, and in Gujarat in 2002. The October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, and Israel’s response will be remembered for its calculated inhumanity.
This barbarity extends to words, government policy and political ideology. Trump’s presidency, the British government’s handling of the refugee crisis, and the hate speech of some political leaders and their supporters, suggests that humans find it in themselves to go beyond recorded lows of human perversion.
So, what brings out the worst in us? Excuses like revenge, pride and nationhood do not dwell on underlying thought processes that actualise into savage acts. Here are a few rationale –
Unwillingness to consider the other as human – Dehumanisation is not a recent phenomenon. Colonialists and colonists believed they were superior to the Natives, similarly slave traders believed in racial superiority, and upper castes believe in the primacy of their caste. The Nazis called Jews rats before their Final Solution. Hutus calling Tutsis cockroaches was a precursor to the Tutsi massacre. Dehumanisation and desensitisation gives one carte blanche to act from one’s basest instincts.
Many in India and abroad see people of other communities or of other ideologies as outsiders and enemies. In India, besides caste and religious prejudice, othering is promoted by politicians and their supporters. Terms such as ‘libtards’ (a portmanteau of liberal and retard), slogans like ‘desh ke gadaro ko, goli maron salon ko’ (shoot the traitors of the country) are used by some politicians and their supporters to vilify citizens criticising the government.
This disinclination to see basic commonalities continues, and still has ramifications.
The human desire for a Jewish homeland and identity trampled on the Palestinian’s right for the same. Thus, the decades of travesties against Palestine by the Israeli government and Jewish settlers. The other side of the coin is Hamas and other Palestinian organisations, countries, and their surrogates, do not recognise the right of the Israeli state and Jews to exist
Considering ourselves victims – Never before has a modern nation anointed itself a victim of a time before nationhood. The state and citizens blame fellow citizens of other religions for this past and target them. In India, Muslim nationals are picked on for Mughal rule which rightwing Hindus consider as a blot on an otherwise glorious Hindu past. The Nazi’s foisted Germany’s WW1 loss on German Jews.
Christians blaming Jews for Jesus’ death resulted in the persecution of Jews through the ages culminating in the Holocaust. Today antisemitism continues. Israel uses this brutality to justify its nationhood and the misery meted out to Palestinians. The fact that the International Auschwitz Council recently released a letter supporting Israel indicates a form virtue signalling that is insular and biased. It will never foster peace in the region and among religions.
As an aside, the logic behind Western support for Israel’s rational – historic suffering – for the creation of a Jewish nation does not extend to Native Indians and Aboriginals.
Choosing inspiration devoid of humaneness – Humans have always had someone to look-up to and emulate. Children have parents, youth have role-models and heroes, employees have mentors. They influence behaviours and thinking.
Nazis believed in a master race; the RSS in a master religion – their concept of Hinduism and nationhood where minorities are second-class citizens. The calls to socio-economically boycott minorities in India mirrors the treatment meted out to Jews in Nazi Germany.
The horrific past that inspired the formation of Israel has not prevented this Jewish state from doing to Palestinians what it wishes to protect Jews from.
Not being held accountable – Adults mould their children through a mix of praise, punishment and example setting. Children thus learn good from bad and understand the concept of accountability. Nations have institutions to hold citizens accountable, while there are international bodies to hold nations and national leaders accountable.
Western nations not holding Israel accountable for the killing of journalists and Palestinians, and for the illegal Jewish settlements has vitiated the Palestine-Israel issue.
Forgetting humanity within religion – Both Islam and Judaism believe their god created humans – meaning human life is sacred. But Hamas forgot this basic tenet, videos of them shouting Allahu-Akbar as they went about their Oct 7th savagery shocked the world. This belief has not prevented Israel from caging, displacing and killing unarmed Palestinians for decades, and now has not reined in their brutal response to October 7th.
What some consider the worst in us is often appreciated and perceived as inspirational and courageous by others. A case in point are the celebrations by Palestinians and their supporters, immediately after Hamas invaded Israel ignoring, or without knowledge of, their loathsome actions which now include rape of men and women. Similarly, Israelis and their supporters revelling and finding excuses to continue the retaliation despite thousands of innocent Palestinians dying, being rendered homeless shows another form of bestiality. Let’s, not forget that these supporters paint any call for peace as being antisemitic.
One is seeing the human tendency to misconstrue support for a cause with the need for bigoted attacks against its opponents. Thus, backing the Palestine cause unfortunately becomes reason for antisemitism. There is also the belief that denouncing cruelty inflicted by those being supported dilutes the cause or is a sign of wavering support.
Humans are a rare species; they progress without learning from past mistakes. This is a miracle! Is it proof that god exists, and if so, why does God constantly miss opportunities to set things right?
(Samir Nazareth is an author and writes on socio-economic and environmental issues)
