Stages of Genocide: Classification, Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organization...

[uppityperson]

Polarization, Preparation, Extermination, Denial

http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/8stagesofgenocide.html

I see parallels to what is going on socially, politically. "Us" vs "them". Dehumanizing nicknames. Polarization.

I am not afraid of this turning into any genocide, but am noticing parallels. I am including a clip, but go read the whole thing. It doesn't have to be this way, what can we do to counter any of it?

(clip)
1. CLASSIFICATION: All cultures have categories to distinguish people into “us and them” by ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality: German and Jew, Hutu and Tutsi. Bipolar societies that lack mixed categories, such as Rwanda and Burundi, are the most likely to have genocide. The main preventive measure at this early stage is to develop universalistic institutions that transcend ethnic or racial divisions, that actively promote tolerance and understanding, and that promote classifications that transcend the divisions. The Catholic church could have played this role in Rwanda, had it not been riven by the same ethnic cleavages as Rwandan society. Promotion of a common language in countries like Tanzania has also promoted transcendent national identity. This search for common ground is vital to early prevention of genocide.
(clip)
3. DEHUMANIZATION: One group denies the humanity of the other group. Members of it are equated with animals, vermin, insects or diseases. Dehumanization overcomes the normal human revulsion against murder. At this stage, hate propaganda in print and on hate radios is used to vilify the victim group. In combating this dehumanization, incitement to genocide should not be confused with protected speech. Genocidal societies lack constitutional protection for countervailing speech, and should be treated differently than democracies. Local and international leaders should condemn the use of hate speech and make it culturally unacceptable. Leaders who incite genocide should be banned from international travel and have their foreign finances frozen. Hate radio stations should be shut down, and hate propaganda banned. Hate crimes and atrocities should be promptly punished.

4. ORGANIZATION: Genocide is always organized, usually by the state, often using militias to provide deniability of state responsibility (the Janjaweed in Darfur.) Sometimes organization is informal (Hindu mobs led by local RSS militants) or decentralized (terrorist groups.) Special army units or militias are often trained and armed. Plans are made for genocidal killings. To combat this stage, membership in these militias should be outlawed. Their leaders should be denied visas for foreign travel. The U.N. should impose arms embargoes on governments and citizens of countries involved in genocidal massacres, and create commissions to investigate violations, as was done in post-genocide Rwanda.

5. POLARIZATION: Extremists drive the groups apart. Hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda. Laws may forbid intermarriage or social interaction. Extremist terrorism targets moderates, intimidating and silencing the center. Moderates from the perpetrators’ own group are most able to stop genocide, so are the first to be arrested and killed. Prevention may mean security protection for moderate leaders or assistance to human rights groups. Assets of extremists may be seized, and visas for international travel denied to them. Coups d’état by extremists should be opposed by international sanctions...(more)

[uppityperson]

1. kick

[thaddeus_flowe]

2. kick

you're right.
what can we do? when many refuse to even acknowledge the wrong that is dehumanization, polarization, and vitriolic hatred.

[uppityperson]

3. call out when you see or hear it. Don't "be polite" but call whomever on it.

It is a start

[thaddeus_flowe]

5. just that

levelheadedness at first put me off. but it is levelheadedness
that precludes the left from irrationality and violence. 
to use reason and intellect to call out wrongdoing instead of
death threats is proof itself that the left has not lost
reason. 

thank you. 

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Kick because this is important

[kwolf68]

6. I do see

a lot of similarities between the fascists and modern day Conservatives, but "ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality" (stage 1) doesn't apply.

You can't readily know if someone is a Liberal. We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, orientations, etc...

The extermination of Liberals (which I fully believe many on the right long for) just doesn't seem likely (and I am VERY strident in my view that Conservatives are inherently fascist).

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. The germans used the same language

and many liberals ended up at lovely summer camps such as ... Bergen Belsen...

:sarcasm: of course... but the first political prisoners of the Third Reich were NOT jews, but Social Democrats and Communists.

[uppityperson]

8. We do come in all sizes, shapes, sexes, colors, etc, but it is indeed "Us" vs "them"

DemocRATs repukes
you are with us or you are against us
congressional voting along party lines
south vs north
blue vs red
conservative vs liberal
etc vs etc

I am not saying genocide is a worry but that there are similarities, classifying, dehumanizing, polarizing. It is interesting how this hateful dichotomous fearful thinking parallels those warning signs. In the last week there has been a prime example of polarization. "Extremists drive the groups apart. Hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda. "