The Exclusionary Conscience

The self-identity of most nation-states is exclusionary and oppositional: to generate solidarity, a sense of shared community, and consensus, an ill-defined we is unfavorably contrasted with a fuzzy they. While hate speech has been largely outlawed the world over, these often counterfactual dichotomies between us and them still reign supreme.

In extreme - though surprisingly frequent - cases, whole groups (typically minorities) are excluded from the nations moral universe and from the ambit of civil society. Thus, they are rendered invisible, subhuman, and unprotected by laws, institutions, and ethics. This process of distancing and dehumanization I call exclusionary conscience.

The most recent examples are the massacre of the Tutsis in Rwanda, the Holocaust of the Jews in Nazi Germanys Third Reich, and the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Radical Islamists are now advocating the mass slaughter of Westerners, particularly of Americans and Israelis, regardless of age, gender, and alleged culpability. But the phenomenon of exclusionary conscience far predates these horrendous events. In the Bible, the ancient Hebrews are instructed to exterminate all Amalekites, men, women, and children.

In her book, The Nazi Conscience, Claudia Koontz quotes from Freuds Civilization and its Discontents:

If (the Golden Rule of morality) commanded Love thy neighbor as thy neighbor loves thee, I should not take exception to it. If he is a stranger to me ... it will be hard for me to love him. (p. 5)

返回首页

The Exclusionary Conscience

Lastest Update

·Television Stations and Freedom of Expression

·Is the Media Blocking the Message of Americans who Dont Support Israel?

·CA/Tastrophe In Our Future?

·Are We Being Legally Mugged?

·The Arrogant Path To Extinction

·Forget Politically Correct Check out Politically Ignorant

·Should Illegal Immigrants be Allowed?

·Joe Arpaio For President

·Relations With China

·Is Chinas Economy Growing Too Fast?

·Islamic Militancy Seed for the Next Dark Ages

·Baltimore..Red Light Camera Capital of the World

·Its Election Time: Get Out the Vote and Win Big

·The Controversial Death Penalty

·New Early Warning System Uses Artificial Intelligence

·Rwandas Children Emerge From Shadows of War

·Ministry Sends Prayers To Hurricane Survivors

·Misinterpreting the Middle East Crisis as an Apocalypse

·Oil Crisis Affects More Than Just Gas Prices

·Blood Extravasation: Israels Journey to the Precipice of Nowhere

·The CAT Magic Show

·Have We Issued One Blank Check To Many!

·James Lovelocks Latest Book Trashes Renewables, Endorses Nuclear Energy

·Quick History of World War Two - European Theater

·The Tax Policy Charade

·Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal

·14 Billion Doesnt Buy What It Used To

·Shall we grab the Oil Fields.

·Will Germany Declare War On Iran?

·A Fresh Look on the War in Iraq

·Islamic Intolerance

·Oil Shortgages - A Solution

·The Rising Risk of a Terrorist Attack - Could It Happen Today?

·Bush Gets Caught Swearing on Open Mika At G8 Summit

·How One Can Reduce American Oil Addiction?

·Manifestation of Corruption

·Celebrate American Freedom Won 225 Years Ago

·Americans Unite Return Government to the People

·Senator Breaux Calls For Ceasefire On Health Care

·Memories on Hand: The Beauty of Class Rings

·Re-Connecting Again: The Online Search for Classmates

·Its The End Of Summer, So Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?

·UNICEF Gives Hope to People of Palestine

·US Threatens China with Massive Tariffs

·Six Thought Provoking Questions

·Hidden Jewel Of The West: Lake Havasu Uncovered

·London Bridge is Falling Down In Lake Havasu?

·Aliens with no brains have replaced the majority of the American people!

·On the Nature of Evil

·Taking Political Discussions Seriously