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Andrew N's avatar

Love how you put Orwell's observation in this article,

The Party depends on its ability to tap into pre-existing rage. Individuals blinded and bonded by rage are easily controlled by the state.

False paradigms and false dichotomies specifically designed to keep you at odds with your fellow human beings.

Who benefits the most from separating people from compassion and empathy?

Effective psychological manipulation via divide and conquer narratives and dehumanization propaganda makes people lose compassion and empathy for their fellow human beings because now they've been categorized as "other" or "less than"; allowing not only for the abuse of human rights and civil liberties of those marginalized individuals, but to also facilitate the future oppression of those that would allow it. Apply this logic to any "Us vs Them" rhetoric and you immediately recognize it for the trap that it is.

Because we've been conditioned to view these people through a lens of dehumanization, that somehow their arbitrary differences or extenuating circumstances make their lives any less valuable than ours, these kinds of faux political debates are the result.

This kind of rhetoric that we have been constantly subjected to, much like how lies on repetition come to be accepted as truths, have seemingly divorced us from a fundamental part of ourselves — our humanity.

In times of hardship we rush to the side of our loved ones in need without hesitation. Amid natural disasters strangers often flock to render assistance to one another with no thought of what may be gained in return

Our humanity isn't lost. It's apparent when we're put in circumstances that cause us to view others as our equal. We've just been made to forget it at times. It is made to be so buried under the biases, and the prejudices, and the dogmas of tribalist thinking that we lose sight of it.

We regain our humanity, our empathy, and our compassion for others by seeking to understand them.

Though that still requires work on the part of the individual. A willingness to set aside preconceived notions and look beyond manufactured prejudices. To look inside of oneself and come to terms with one of the oldest philosophies known to man, one that we are all taught when we are children; to treat others how we wish to be treated.

It requires a conscious effort to be open to new ideas and to view things from alternative perspectives. And to realize that we have far more in common with each other than the small subtleties that separate us.

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Daisy Moses Chief Crackpot's avatar

ps the 2 mins. of daily hate are quite effective! This, sadly, jus' heppened a 12 min walk from my ol' neib in Brooklyn... 2 orthodox young boys, 12 & 13, brutally beaten (crime: bein' chews, outside)... no way they'll git the perps-- there's footage but of course folks'll tell ya it's "AI" an' made up...

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-801437

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