"The Others" (Blog post #1)

I happen to listen to a podcast from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum titled Voices on Genocide Prevention which is the discussion of some topic related to genocide and ethnic cleansing led by a professional in the field. Not exactly light hearted fare but certainly enlightening and from my perspective rather provocative given the nature of the political, economical and cultural state of affairs our country is in.

Genocide and ethnic cleansing are the ugly result of a combination of things including humans, hatred, ignorance and intolerance whose flames are often ignited by the spark of what psychologists refer to as the creation of "the other".  This is the gradual demonization of one group of people, typically based on ethnicity or religion but can also include political affiliations and gender, and is perpetuated with great success in the most subtle of ways. We have all seen or heard about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and in the Balkans during the early 90's, as well as Rwanda, not to mention what is going on in Syria today. But what about us here in America? Certainly we are above such atrocity. Or are we?

My concern is the level of intolerance for the opinions and ideas of those that differ from our own as exemplified by our own government. Those who are our own elected officials, our supposed best, brightest, and most well behaved act with childish impunity when waggling their finger at one another and refuse to work in any capacity for the common good of the people. What kind of example are they setting for their citizenry? Both ruling parties heinously guilty of perpetuating a psychology that can lead to despicable acts of violence. One can easily navigate the internet and view many a political site or blog and see the ensuing comment section that is filled with venom spewed from everyday individuals desperate to settle some kind of score.

Are we on the brink of a genocide? No, I do not believe we currently are but I do not believe that it is out of our realm of future possibility. Many survivors of past genocides tell the same stories; they cannot believe that their own neighbors and friends would have turned on them in such a way. Like us, they were all civilized human beings.