Look back on human history and you'll see a pattern for every person or group who has suffered discrimination, prejudice, hatred, torture and death because they didn't fall live within the walls of societal norms. The list is endless.
The people who were creating a hostile environment for different people can't all be evil, sociopaths or masochists. Most probably have a conscience. And many had spouses and children and were well respected in their community. So how could they live with themselves when they condoned burning women at the stake or hanging people from a tree because of their skin color?
Well, it's a process. First of all you need to find something about your fellow human being that makes you uncomfortable. A good dose of ignorance is critical. Then you have to exaggerate the damage done to you. From there you need to tell others of the potential damage this may cause them and convince them this may happen to you. Again, focus on the ignorant if you want a quick following.
Once there are enough fearful people supporting you then you have to begin demonizing your new enemy. Better said, you have to dehumanize them. Once they have been dehumanized they are no longer a person. They are a thing, and an evil thing at that.
Take that and let it be known we will be destroyed by this evil thing if we don't destroy it first. Then go destroy it and feel good about eradicating evil from this world.
The key is dehumanization. As long as someone believes the person they are hurting isn't human they can justify anything they do to that person and still sleep at night. If you don't believe just me ask any serial killer.
Now the question is how to you humanize those who have been dehumanized?
Julie
