The Spring of 1994 witnessed the brutal murder of almost a million people and the rape of almost a half million women, inside the boarders of a country the size of the state of Maryland.
The cause – fear and hate.
Fear and hate are the primary manipulation tools employed when trying to coerce others, especially large groups of others. They are especially effective because those under their influence rarely know they are being manipulated, and vehemently deny that fact when confronted. In our, educated and sophisticated culture, It is always considered the “other people” who are influenced by such simple-minded tricks.
And therein lies the challenge.
As we journey toward our mysterious future it would greatly behoove us to acknowledge that we are all susceptible to being manipulated by the purveyors of fear and hate. We must confront the fact that some of those who influence our lives the most do so through the use of fear and hate. Often disguised in the form of ad hominem abusive and derogatory references, as well as comic ridicule and meme, it undermines rational and intellectually honest thought.
The challenge is to rise above the belief that only “other people” succumb to such crude manipulation. We must become aware of the manipulative practices that bombard us every day. We should cultivate within us an alarm that responds to messages that strive to instill within us the belittlement of our neighbors. Yes, our neighbors… the “other people” are, in fact, our neighbors.
We are now a society divided. For every topic of the day, we align behind manipulators that would have us believe those on the other side, the “other people”, are less than we. Less intelligent, less aware, less caring, less capable of detecting lies, less, less, less. What we must do is work to overcome those manipulators and accept that our neighbors, even those we disagree with, are our neighbors and deserve to be heard. Throw off the chains of arrogance, intolerance and judgement and love your neighbor. And, if you are a Christian, this admonition comes from no less that the one who’s name you bear. Do not bear His name in vain. Love you neighbor.
Rwanda thrives today because the people chose forgiveness and reconciliation over fear and hate. Now, living as neighbors, Rwandans have much to teach us.
Shall we learn from them or allow history to repeat?