Does the Israeli / Lebanon / Hezbollah situation show us for who we are?

[bryant69]

In other words, True or false; the Israel / Lebanon / Hezbollah situation shows humanity for what it really is; a pack of rabid hateful beasts consumed by little save hatred and tribalism, lacking both pity and charity, and deserving of neither pity nor charity.

Bryant
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[ThomCat]

1. Mostly true.

People reserve most of their concern for people who are like them. We are very tribal that way. Almost everything becomes Us vs Them. If your definitions of Us are too strike then it's easy to be inhumane to Them.

I think one of our biggest challenges is to make as many people as possible US to as great an extent as possible so that violence becomes much less thinkable.

[bryant69]

2. But given our rabid vicious nature, is that really a reasonable goal?

Bryant

[ThomCat]

3. I don't know whether it's reasonable or not.

But it's an essential goal. If we don't constantly push for more empathy and more of a relationship with people who are different then we're choosing to be rabid and vicious.

[bloom]

4. Some push tribalism and some people don't.

Some people abuse power and some people don't.


The more that people are tribalistic and abuse power - the less sympathy they should expect from people outside of their group.

[bryant69]

10. Given that Hezbollah (of which much of southern lebanon is a member)

and Israel seem extra tribalistic and vicious, don't they have the right idea in trying to wipe themselves out? I mean the fewer rabid beasts around the better?

Or, alternative, should we have pity on them, because we are rabid beasts just like them?

[bloom]

11. I have pity on the people

who are victims of other's tribalism.

There are a lot of countries over there where people of different religions have been able to coexist. It helps if the group in power doesn't say that only people of their group get any rights and the other people have to wait (and die) at checkpoints, etc.


Re: "Or, alternative, should we have pity on them, because we are rabid beasts just like them?"

Maybe you are a rabid beast. :shrug: Maybe would like to think that everybody is - because if you think that everyone is - that certainly justifies the actions of your group - if your group acts with no regard to people outside of your group.


It seems like it's better to expect more from people. If you expect the worst - you are more likely the worst.

[jayfish]

5. Mostly True But I Would Substitute...

religiosity, racism and territorial pissing for hatred and tribalism.

Jay

[bryant69]

6. Substitute or add?

And is that all religiosity? Or Religiously motivated hatred?

[jayfish]

7. Stuff It All In There.

It fits and it's disgusting. We sure haven't come nearly as far as we would like to, smugly, think we have.

Jay

[bryant69]

8. How far should we go?

I mean if these are our defining traits - wouldn't it be better off if humanity went to the slush pile rather than the stars?

[jayfish]

9. I Don't Know.

I keep thinking there will come an event that will shock us enough to step back and take a breath. There have been some real doosies as of late, but their effects are temporary and then we're right back at the hate. I'm guilty of it too, but I'm aware and make an effort to correct my flaws.

Jay

[jsamuel]

12. I believe theologists have already cleared that up.

That is not our "basic nature".

However, some, like Bush, want everyone to feel that way. One of those, if you make everyone believe it, then it becomes true things.

Look at NO after Katrina. 99% of the so called "anarchy" (besides looting) was made up by people, like the "helicopters being shot down" stuff. The frenzy feeds itself.

[bryant69]

13. Theologists are experts on human nature?

I thought they had something else they focused on.

[jsamuel]

14. sorry, brain %$#, I meant philosophers

Specifically John Locke

[Lilith Velkor]

15. 13 people have exposed themselves as misanthropes.

I hope the mods are recording who they are so they can be treated as...having an opinion.

:mad: <----my serious threatening face! :)

[KAT119]

16. NEOCON =LIKUD=2 COUNTRIES & EXACTLY SAME PNAC GOALS!!

The US NEOCONS ARE 99% ZIONISTS...read the list of who is in charge!!!

[Marie26]

17. Mostly true

Humanity is often consumed w/hatred & tribalism, and deserving of both pity and charity. Compassion is the way out of the cycle.