Learning to Be Fascists
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 3 Apr 2017
Maung Zarni – TRANSCEND Media Service
Learning to be fascists, victims, and bystanders (and everything in-between). We learn to love, hate, kill, slaughter, rape, torture, etc.
This picture which hangs on an exhibit hall of the Hollywood-designed Oscar Schindler’s museum (formerly his factory, now a must-see museum in Krakow, within a few minutes’ walk from the walled Jewish ghetto).
My Polish sociologist guide taught me something really perceptive using this photo.
Learning to Submit Completely
The Polish Jews in the Nazi-occupied Poland were taught to behave rather submissively whenever they encountered SS or Gestapo members. For behaving otherwise would result in their death.
Here an Orthodox Jewish man stood with complete docility while a group of SS or Gestapos stopped him and humiliated him in full of the public.
Learning to Be Sadistic Human Monsters – With a Small ‘m’
Ordinary Germans who joined the Nazi security forces learned to behave as perpetrators, sadists, torturers, executioners, rapists, looters, robbers, etc. The more sadistic the better for your career prospects within the Nazi ladder. They learned that they enjoyed BLANKET IMPUNITY to do anything to the marked population GROUPS.
Notice a few Nazi men in uniform posing gleefully for camera with their Jewish victim.
Learning to Be Indifferent Bystanders
Poles and others whom in the Nazi ideology were borderlines Aryans (those who had potentials to be at the bottom of race hierarchy in the Nazi system as labourer population) learned to behave indifferent towards a situation which they knew was grossly barbaric. For showing kindness and acting on this kindness towards the members of the marked population, namely their local Jewish friends, neighbors, etc. as well as Roma gypsies, etc. would invite collective punishment of their own Polish families, friends, etc.
In the photo a few Polish men looked on, wearing the faces of indifference.
Nazism and Nazi behaviours were “taught”, through punishment and reward systems.
No human social organisation is immune from this kind of Pavlovian condition.
In my view, the Burmese society is undergoing this experience regarding the Rohingya victims of state terror, social ostracism/exclusion and the emerging sadistic culture of those who call themselves “Buddhists”.
______________________________________________
Dr. Maung Zarni is a Burmese activist blogger, Associate Fellow at the University of Malaya, a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment, founder and director of the Free Burma Coalition (1995-2004), a visiting fellow (2011-13) at the Civil Society and Human Security Research Unit, London School of Economics, and a nonresident scholar with the Sleuk Rith Institute in Cambodia. His forthcoming book on Burma will be published by Yale University Press. He was educated in the US where he lived and worked for 17 years.
Go to Original – maungzarni.net
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.