How does the ruling class justify the unjustifiable?
As the Gaza genocide unfolds, the list of international laws being broken by Israel continues to grow unchecked. Despite being protected, hospitals, aid workers, and journalists have become regular targets of the IOF. Claiming the presence of a single Hamas member can justify leveling entire residential buildings, schools, and running people over alive with bulldozers. Despite all of it, many still defend or even applaud these actions. It can really have you wondering, “where has our humanity gone?”
The answer is another quirk of human nature: Fear. Psychologically speaking, humans operate well when we have a common enemy to rally against. Having a clear enemy gives us a sense of control and comfort during uncertain times, allowing us to attribute bad things to a clear cause that can be understood, contained, and controlled. The Ruling Class know this too and works continuously to define “the enemy” for us. By doing so, especially during times of war, they can garner public support for what would otherwise be unpopular policies, allowing them to stay in power. This results in a society able to place real limits on their shared humanity in the name of self-preservation.
