War.

I always thought that the old saying, “War is sweet to those that know it not” was of Roman origin but apparently it is from ancient Greece - from the Greek poet Pindar (518BC – 438BC), to be exact. I have no knowledge of the Greek language but have a fragmentary knowledge of Latin and Pindar’s original Greek is the origin of the Latin proverb "Dulce bellum inexpertis" which is translated (more or less) as, “War is sweet to those that know it not”.

 

The continuation of what Pindar wrote is; “but the experienced man trembles exceedingly at heart on its approach.”

 

I believe that this proverb is as true today as it was 2500 years ago. 

 

In the name of God, why start a war? Why? 

 

It is my firm belief that human ego and pride are the reasons. These two give rise to the widespread misconception of “us” and “them”. Us being always better, more intelligent and culturally advanced than them and that “our” God is better than “their” God. Therefore it matters not how we treat such inferior beings – God is on “our” side!

 

The old concept of the Scapegoat is very apparent – always blame “them” – awful, inferior people. Now the Ukrainians are termed Nazis and must be eliminated. Sound familiar?

 

It takes two to tango – as the old saying goes. It stands to reason that differences of opinion will arise (humans being the fickle creatures they are) therefore it will always be necessary for there to be (as Winston Churchill famously phrased it) more “jaw, jaw” and less “war, war”. And “jaw, jaw” is always less costly in human life and material than “war, war” – always.

 

Vladimir Putin was born, in Leningrad (since renamed back to its original St Petersburg), on 7 October 1952 – so he has no direct, feet on the ground, shooting, experience of war. There is, however, something that we all need to be aware of – both Putin’s parents experienced the Second World War first hand, his mother in the terrible siege of Leningrad and his father, a soldier, was severely wounded fighting the Nazis.

It is now recognized, and is well documented, that trauma of any type affects a person’s body, not just the brain and mind. Trauma affects the “epigenetics” – those proteins that trigger genetic activity – in fact the “Body Keeps the Score” (the title of a book by psychiatrist, Bessel Van Der Kolk).

It will therefore come as no surprise if it is ever determined that Putin is suffering from the traumatic events experienced by his parents. 

The Scapegoat – and why we use it.

Amended: October 25, 2018.

This ancient form of “displacement” activity is still very prevalent today. And it is really very simple. It is a form of aggression used to relieve frustration (in a person, a group, or society in general) that is usually directed at a weaker person (or group) that is unable to retaliate – and can thus be easily blamed for causing the frustration.

The scapegoat is usually distinct, easily identifiable and “different” from the more dominant person or group thus justifying the aggression and prejudice – “they are not us” – and so - “it is their fault!”

An intense frustration directed at some individual or group (which cannot be easily assuaged) gives rise to what is known as a “Frustration – Aggression - Displacement Hypothesis” and thus a Scapegoat is found.

We all, each one of us, thinks or believes, that we are “good” – no one believes, deep down, that they are “bad”. So if any untoward event causes us to look in the “mirror” as it were, and we see ourselves unfavourbly reflected in the face or eyes of another, we may be shocked or dismayed at what we see. This will often give rise to denial – “that’s not me!” 

We therefor blame the “scapegoat”. And more often than not there is extreme violence applied to the scapegoat – sometimes death. 

Many examples of “scapegoating” are recorded in history – the Bible is a good source. Two tragic, unfortunate but classic, more recent, scapegoat examples were the racial aggression (extrajudicial action that led to the lynching of African Americans) in the Southern States of the USA. As the price of cotton fell and the slaves were freed (causing frustration as economic opportunities for the white people were reduced) the African Americans (all either former slaves or descended from slaves) were blamed and the numbers of lynching increased as the economy in the Southern States tanked (prejudice and displaced aggression). 

The other was the anti-Semitism, the prejudice, aggression and extreme measures directed at the Jews in Nazi Germany in the period leading up to the Second World War. In this case the Jews were targeted and blamed, by Hitler, for the economic and political crisis that arose after Germany suffered the humiliation of firstly losing the First World War and then being forced to pay massive reparations as determined by the 1920 Treaty of Versailles. Again, an example of frustration leading to displaced aggression against a weaker group.

The Jews were in no position to retaliate and six million were killed, just as the African Americans had no recourse against the Ku Klux Klan and the judicial system applying at that time. It is believed that about 3500 African Americans were lynched.  

Now, today, it is Mexican “drug addicts, rapists and undocumented immigrants swarming across the border” between Mexico and the USA. 

Now, today, it is Islamic fundamentalists not willing to integrate and trying to subject Europe to Sharia Law, also taking jobs from hard working Christian Europeans. 

Now, today, it is “illegal boat people” and “asylum seekers” still trying to flood into Australia. 

Now, today, it is “criminal elements” within the ethnic minority Muslim Rohingya causing problems in Buddhist Myanmar. 

Now, today, it is immigrants causing violent crimes, taking jobs and causing the funding problems with the UK’s National Health Services.

Now today we have the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince authorising(?) the murder and dismembering of Jamal Khashoggi  in Turkey (he was a  journalist who wrote for the Washington Post and who annoyed the Prince). Khashoggi exposed corruption and the Saudi involvement in the "war" in Yemen. And this was in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul, no less. 

They too have no recourse - none of them.

The scapegoat is always chosen because it is easy to victimize without fear of retaliation.

As the Nazi Hermann Goering ominously warned the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial (1946): “The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”

Conform or be an Individual?

This has confused me and I know there has been discussion, sometimes acrimonious, about the merits of striving to be an individual over the easier route of just conforming. This is when the “best for the community” is put before the individual. Now in this regard I’m referring not just to religious conforming when “everyone” has to think and believe a certain way or be called an “apostate” or “heretic”. This, religious conformism, seems to be fading somewhat in the world today – certainly when it comes to Christianity. It used to be that everyone went to church at least once a week – now many churches are almost empty.  

What I’m thinking about is the “autocratic” type of conforming – Turkey, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, North Korea – even to a certain extent it now appears, in the USA. In these countries only government approved media is permitted and only government approved public expression of views is allowed. All else is “fake news”, or at least contrary to “approved” news and purveyors of such news may be jailed or at the very least may be “pilloried” by the authorities and in social media.

Many of us, certainly in my age group, will remember pictures of China under the autocratic rule of Chairman Mao, where everyone had to wear the regulation blue boiler-suit and carry the “Red Book” of his pronouncements and avoid, at all costs, being termed a counter revolutionary. And where “re-education camps” were widely used.

I’m wondering whether we actually need to conform as traditionally portrayed. We cannot all think and act the same. Humans are just not made that way. This is why I believe that Soviet Communism failed and why any autocratic regime will also ultimately fail. Trying to suppress an individual’s ideas and aspiration just builds up pressure and a great deal of stress. 

Yes, certainly, we humans are social beings. We need to have contact with other like-minded people. It’s just the way we are. This is why families have always been seen as vital to any society. But do I need a government to tell me how I should behave with “foreigners” or what and who to believe, or which social media is appropriate?

No! 

We have to be given the freedom to think and act for ourselves (within certain parameters of the law). The stress of conforming has its downside. For instance Japan, a highly “conformist” society, has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. 

What we have to guard against is the prevalent but very old concept of the “scapegoat” – blame someone or some group for your own troubles. In Australia it’s the “boat people” or “illegal immigrants” invading our carefully guarded borders; in the USA it’s Mexican drug addicts and rapists invading the country; in (nominally) Christian countries in Europe it’s the Islamists wanting to impose Sharia law and upsetting the old traditions; in strict Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran it’s decadent Western ideas polluting the minds of the young – with such unseemly things as dancing, different sexes swimming together or even watching a football match. 

As the Nazi Hermann Goering warned at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial (1946): “The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”

We all need to be very vigilant.