“The same approach which treats sins common to the human race as peculiarities of ‘our society’ often also makes the fatal error of confusing victimhood with virtue, by lining up on the side of the victim, instead of lining up on the side of a moral principle. Yet nothing has been more common in history than for victims to become oppress…
“The same approach which treats sins common to the human race as peculiarities of ‘our society’ often also makes the fatal error of confusing victimhood with virtue, by lining up on the side of the victim, instead of lining up on the side of a moral principle. Yet nothing has been more common in history than for victims to become oppressors when they gain power…” — Thomas Sowell, Race and Culture
The power of that lesson is to apply it bilaterally, rather than selectively. Applying it blindly in only one direciton turns it into a weapon rather than reflective wisdom.
Some will see it as applying only to Israel as the former victims of Nazi extermination, later becoming oppressive to Palestinians, feeling justified.
Others will see it as a warning that Palestinians, the current designated victims, ever gain the power to accomplish their aims, they would try to exterminate Israelis, feeling justified.
The deep lesson is that both can be true, and that ANY victims can become the oppressors, period. If we get too emotionally attached on one demographic, we can slip into seeing only half of that picture, and turning that insight into a framing for perpetuating the seesaw of oppression, rather than escaping from it.
“The same approach which treats sins common to the human race as peculiarities of ‘our society’ often also makes the fatal error of confusing victimhood with virtue, by lining up on the side of the victim, instead of lining up on the side of a moral principle. Yet nothing has been more common in history than for victims to become oppressors when they gain power…” — Thomas Sowell, Race and Culture
A quote lifted from Thomas St Thomas's story, https://thomasstthomas.medium.com/woke-right-a-litmus-test-2c58d769ba8b
"nothing has been more common in history than for victims to become oppressors when they gain power…”
An absolutely tragic truth.
The power of that lesson is to apply it bilaterally, rather than selectively. Applying it blindly in only one direciton turns it into a weapon rather than reflective wisdom.
Some will see it as applying only to Israel as the former victims of Nazi extermination, later becoming oppressive to Palestinians, feeling justified.
Others will see it as a warning that Palestinians, the current designated victims, ever gain the power to accomplish their aims, they would try to exterminate Israelis, feeling justified.
The deep lesson is that both can be true, and that ANY victims can become the oppressors, period. If we get too emotionally attached on one demographic, we can slip into seeing only half of that picture, and turning that insight into a framing for perpetuating the seesaw of oppression, rather than escaping from it.