If we examine our behaviours over time, I'm sure we all can recognize the propaganda that surrounds war. One of the first things we start doing is to demonize our enemy. By doing so we turn them into an animal or some other lower level, evil entity that then makes it easier for us to justify our attack and violent behaviours. You may be familiar with some of these propaganda techniques.
This was used during World War II to demonize the Japanese as murders, rapers, kid nappers and capable of performing all kinds of horrible and dark atrocities. The problem is that this type of propaganda demonizes ALL people who are Japanese, not just the ones engaged in these types of acts.
How about these 10 cent novels used to depict the American Indian as an enemy who deserves to be stabbed in the heart or even through the back? We all know that the energy of the propaganda runs so deep that it is ingrained into the DNA and multi-generational psyche of some people who hate them to this very day. There are people alive today who still think that the best Indian is a dead Indian.
The energy of propaganda runs deep and we see it as a common way to justify our attacks against our enemies. Now we see it here on steemit as well as people are demonizing their enemies here too!
I hold it to a sign of great prudence in men to refrain alike from threats and from the use of insulting language, for neither of these things deprives the enemy of his power, but the first puts him more on his guard, while the other intensifies his hatred of you and makes him more industrious in devising means to harm you. — Niccolò Machiavelli
I would suggest that we depend on propaganda and the demonetization of our enemy so that we look past the fact that they are our spiritual brothers and sisters. It is easier to put masks on them so that we can feel better about ourselves when we hurt or kill them. But the truth is, it still results in spiritual harm and significant consequences.
We must resist the temptation to demonize one another in order to justify our vial and ugly behaviours. It does not matter if it is the Pope, Queen, government, Jews, Muslims, Blacks, White, Gays, or what ever label you choose to paint. We are all sacred, spiritual beings and as such it demands respect and love.
Bishop John Shelby Spong said it best in his book 'Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism' when he wrote:
The Word of God in Scripture confronts me with the revelation that all human beings are created in God’s image and reflect God’s holiness. All human beings means all human beings … all human beings. Men and women, homosexual persons and heterosexual persons, all races, nationalities, and persons of any ethnic background, all communists and capitalists, rich and poor, old and young, religious and nonreligious, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus, atheists and agnostics – all persons reflect the holiness of God, for all are made in God’s image. How can I enslave, segregate, denigrate, oppress, violate, or victimize one who bears the image of the Holy One? How can one worship the source of being, the great “I AM”, except by having the courage to be the self God created each of us to be? The Christian is the one called so deeply into life, into love, and into being that he or she can say with a Christlike integrity, I AM!
We are all being confronted and we must resist the temptation to engage in evil acts against one another. We must confront our fears and recognize that fear often drives our hate which then leads to suffering. People are suffering and to resolve that suffering requires that we take a step back and confront the fear within us with love, compassion and understanding. I call upon those who beat the war drums and spread propaganda to reflect on what is really going on in your heart.
Imagine how powerful steemit would be if we were able to work through these differences and gain a brother from the other side who is willing to work with us? Imagine how much harm this war is causing steemit as the energy of hate consumes the platform? Is it possible that our own fear manifests that which we fear most, the failure of steemit as a viable platform and cryptocurrency?
Imagine that we are able to overcome here and that we can take those lessons and apply it to the real world and do the same with what is going on with our governments, religions, etc. Is it possible to find peace in our life time? To do that requires that we find peace within first. I've found peace and that is why I will not participate in the war. It is not worth the spiritual costs. But I will participate in peace and confront those who engage in violence, hate, propaganda and war!
I don't need other people to tell me who or what the enemy is.
May peace, freedom, prosperity, joy and love manifest from the darkness in our hearts.