Where do the real monsters come from?

[Swede]

I really began to wonder this when Yugoslavia fell apart. People who were neighbours,often inter-married,began slaughtering each other. Now killing during a battle is going to happen. But where do the butchers come from? A war starts,and out of the woodwork comes men that can cut a prisoner's throat,and laugh about. He had never killed before,yet now he gleefully does it. I can understand revenge,but not that.
On another thread someone posted that he had seen a bumpersticker that said "Save America,shoot a liberal". As I've gotten older I recognize people who have no sympathy for others. Not one ounce of compassion. And they blame others for their problems. Are these the monsters,just waiting for their day?

[camero]

1. Yes

And they are prodded by fanatical leaders like Bush.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. It is a weird form of sickness

it becomes a mass madness to become a butcher during war. But it starts with seeds of hatred and intolerance, which makes the implication that 'others' are less than human.

[LiberalTradition]

3. Tribalism seems to be almost instinctual.

Just look at many of the posts on this board.

Don't fall into the trap.

[ex_jew]

4. Barbara Bush's uterus ?

Do I win ?

[LearnedHand]

6. Hand's down!

n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

9. LMAO!!!!

:evilgrin:

[corarose]

11. LOL

You are soooooo right!

[burythehatchet]

5. The answer to your question can be found in the book

Crowds and Power by Elias Caneti

[Swede]

8. I googled and bookmarked this. Thanx.

[david_vincent]

7. They're everywhere

They're among us, they're our neighbors. Civilization is just a veneer. Underneath that, people are either tolerant and just want to be left alone, or they're brutal and want to kill anyone who disagrees with them. I'm not a psychologist and can't really speculate about the causes of a brutal nature, although I suspect that deeply fearful people are more likely to become brutal.
One incident that I often think about happened during the first Gulf War. A bookstore owner in North Carolina who expressed his opposition to the war was found murdered in his shop. As far as I know, no one has ever been charged with the crime.
Killing those who disagree with you is a primitive impulse, and Americans are definitely not "above" that type of thing, as if they're "exempted" by God's grace, which is what some people apparently have to believe.
History suggests that when brutes get the upper hand, decent people have to defend themselves by any means necessary.

[donsu]

10. it seems to infect the male race much, much more then females

nt

[camero]

12. Female crime is on the rise.

Can't make it a gender issue. They aren't off the hook for this, either.