The thing that frightens me the most about acts of human monstrosity is that not all of the humans who take part in them are monsters. What makes people commit abhorrent acts? I think much of it is fostered by an Us Versus Them outlook which blinds us to individual humanity. This outlook is complicated and can vary in validity from one situation to another.

Then there’s group philosophy, influence of propaganda, and the fury of mob mentality, combined with whatever else is going on in the world at the time. On top of that, one can be affected by some kind of individual trauma and a need to rationalize it or place blame. People make metaphors out of tangible things in order to have something to cling to or destroy.

Still, there must be some reason other than environment and group mentality that turns men into beasts; otherwise everyone in the same environmental situation would react the same way. Since that is not the case, there must be some kind of breaking point that varies from person to person. It terrifies me to think that everyone has the capacity to turn into a monster.

I read about the mob in Fallujah rejoicing in the mutilation of four American contractors, and I wonder what made them go so far. I, personally, can’t begin to imagine doing such a thing, but I do not live in their hellish video game of flying bullets, free-thrown grenades, and unwelcome foreign troops. That doesn’t mean I’m superior, it means I’m lucky.

I can understand their anger, but what turned those people into monsters? How did they, who were once innocent children, turn into an undulating, murderous mob? What would their mothers think to see them smiling and cheering like kids at a carnival, while another man's charred remains dangled above them like a piñata? What made them forget that the corpse above them was once someone’s child, too?

It’s tempting and understandable to think that everyone in that mob was a monster. That’s the natural reaction to the opposing team, in this endless game of Us Versus Them. But that can’t possibly be so. Sure, there’s likely to be a monster or two in every crowd, but the mob that screamed in joy as the corpses were torn apart, dragged behind an SUV, and set on fire was comprised also of people with jobs and dentist appointments and families. These people will go on to their cubicles or their assembly lines. Sometimes, some of them stop on the way home from work to pick up bread or tomatoes to have with dinner. Some of them know exactly how their spouses like their coffee in the morning, and how to give great foot massages. Some of them are bound to be assholes who spit on the street and cut you off in traffic; but you wouldn't immediately think them capable of true atrocities.

I’m not excusing what happened. I just wonder what brings people to the point of frenzied, Bacchanalian anger where they either get so pissed off at some aspect of humanity that they maliciously set out to destroy it, or forget about humanity altogether and commit blind and heinous acts. What’s the breaking point?

Mobs exponentially increase the strength of a single voice. It’s interesting to think that if I were to bump into one of the members of that mob on a Chicago street, we’d probably pass without taking any notice of one another.

It’s also interesting to wonder, how would the angriest insurgent react if a genie showed up on his doorstep, and said, “Man, I’ve set up a nice little house for you and your family in Albuquerque/Oslo/Hamburg. Just jump on my magic carpet, and I’ll take y’all outta here.”

Would he go? Would he waffle in his ideals for the chance to get himself and his loved ones out of that daily pedestrian horror story? If it were a choice, which would prevail: Fight or Flight? Everything's relative. I guess his decision would depend on his dedication to Us versus Them. Oh, I don't know anything, and I sure as hell don't have a solution.

And this is why every time I read the paper, I vow to never read it again. I should stick my head back up my ass where it belongs.

This beautiful world sometimes makes me sick to my stomach.

It’s disconcerting to have horrible stuff happen elsewhere, when my city is finally celebrating the shyly green dawn of April.

~ Last Five Entries ~

Moths, and Relative Nonsense - 08.18.05

I Finally Have Internet Access in my Bedroom. But, No Ashtray. - 08.09.05

Here I Am - 08.02.05

One-Armed Paper Hanger Earns her Wings - 07.29.05

Sugar & Lemon - 07.28.05

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