Atrocities caused by labelling everyone a "terrorist"

[maggrwaggr]

My take on the whole thing is that our soldiers were told from the very beginning the following:

That the Iraqis were to blame for 9/11.

That all the Iraqis are "terrorists". Especially anyone who might be shooting at you. And anyone who might KNOW someone who might be shooting at you.

"Terrorists" have no rights and are scum and we're sending them to Guantanamo, throwing away the key, and fuck them all. Our President said so, and our Congress passed laws that let us do that. And this is good.

So since they're terrorists, and they have no rights, and they're responsible for 9/11, let's FUCK WITH THEM.

I mean, who cares? Right?

I am so sick of the generals and the goddamn politicians calling everybody they don't like a "terrorist". This is what it leads to.

[rumguy]

1. And let's not forget they have no souls either...

As Bush said last month...

[maggrwaggr]

6. the power of words. The power of the pen. The power of leadership

A whole lot of people look to their leaders for guidance.

In this case, we have leaders who are basically saying "these people have no rights. Do what you wish to them".

So the followers so exactly that.

[rumguy]

7. his followers, the evangilcals, totally dig his religious dehumanization

they "get it" - you can visit freepville or littlegreenfootballs for proof of that...

[corporatewhore]

2. Its Anti Arab racism/hate pure and simple check out this statement

from ADC http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1555436

[Eric J in MN]

3. Good point. (nt)

nt

[bahrbearian]

4. I was suprised by Chris Mathews calling them Resistance Fighters.

He also calls it an Occupation , not a Liberation.

[rumguy]

5. he did?

woah...

[fujiyama]

8. While I find him

to be a complete Bush ass kisser, to give him credit, he was skeptical about this war from the begining and was never gung ho for it.

[loyalsister]

9. It's the labels stupid

You nailed it. I really think the propaganda dehumanized the Iraqis to a level that the guards did not even entertain the possibility that it was unethical to treat them badly.
Terrorists = evildoers = demons = not worthy of any semblance of humane treatment.

[AussieInCA]

10. excessive stereotyping and illusions of morality -cultist behavior

it is straight out of cult behavior 101.

justify any behavior against the evildoers....no concern for the ethical consequences of their behavior.

[krkaufman]

12. Thank you.

I've been wondering just that... at what point does religious or political fanaticism cross over into cult?

I mean, given that the Fundies believe in the whole "end of days" scenario, how much different are they from the Hale Bopp nutcases? (think Nikes and bunk beds) And ditto for all those locked-in to their faith-based allegiance to The Chimp.

[krkaufman]

11. Agreed.

It all goes back to Bush's simple-minded and counter-productive "with us or with the terrorists" mantra.

[Kanary]

13. But, wait.......

If you take exception to being called names, and labeled negatively, you're told you're "overly sensitive", "don't have a sense of humor", "taking everything too seriously and/or personally", being "disgustingly PC".

The name calling and demonizing works very effectively in the military, as you state. It's also effective bullying to create the Columbines of the world, and for bullying right here at DU.

It's all connected, folks.

Kanary

[maggrwaggr]

14. a kick for Sunday

:kick: