Afternote
ok the essay is not by me... i'm afraid my ability to write with such fluency and style is non-existent... haha... however, one who makes time to read thru e essay will agree it's a beautifully written piece...
bout the essay itself... when i first read it i was simply in awe... it was only much later that i sat down to think it all through... I have to agree that Hitler alone is not to be blamed for the Holocaust... Afterall he was just one individual...a single drop of water admist a vast ocean... It took several thousands to organize and execute his brutal plans...What drives the average man, so capable of great acts of love to turn against his fellow mankind to engage in such acts of horror?
I was reading a particular social psych text which simply stated the reason behind such abhorrent acts as obedience... One's fear of possible punishment to be meted out when failing to comply to rules and regulations leads him to comply at times to engage in such cruelty. It must be noted, however, that most of the time an individual is seen to experience distress when asked to inflict pain upon others... To me i felt this explanation was lacking... Afterall if so many under Hitler were experiencing distress at what they were doing then why couldn't they all have co operated with one another to overthrow him... just like in a mutiny on a ship where the crew turns against the captain... it seems to me that fear more than lack of compassion has led to much bloodshed and violence around the world... plain fear...
fear...once it grips hold of the heart of an individual it will not let go of it easily... the way i see it... fear transcended down from hitler all the way to those below in the masses... whoever was directly under the orders of hitler feared him and thus complied to his orders and in a similar fashion those in ranks below him followed... in short it was like a chain reaction in which several thousands were caused to fear Hitler and his power...
this chain reaction leads to a system... just look at our own lives... we are all part of a bigger stystem... we never stop to think about the systems in place and just dutifully carry out our roles as a student, family member, colleague etc... it is in this way i feel that the Germans carried out their roles under Hitler... cos once a system is established and in place it's in the nature of many to not question but rather follow what the majority and follow the norms...
so apart frm the essay's main pt on group consciousness i wld like to add on my own viewpt...i personally feel individuality and courage are two elements many modern day societys are in need of... although it is important for each person to adhere to some common groundrules like the law( it would be chaotic otherwise!) one also needs to develop a mindset where one thinks for one's self and questions the validity and credibility of all that surrounds him/her... it is crucial that checks and balances are kept in regards to the systems... therefore, a person who feels that things around him are not right should not be afraid to express his own viewpt....this is what i mean by courage...courage to voice out one's opinions and to act in a way that's socially desirable...
well that's just my two cents worth... i'm not sure if it's insightful but it's what i believe in...
bout the essay itself... when i first read it i was simply in awe... it was only much later that i sat down to think it all through... I have to agree that Hitler alone is not to be blamed for the Holocaust... Afterall he was just one individual...a single drop of water admist a vast ocean... It took several thousands to organize and execute his brutal plans...What drives the average man, so capable of great acts of love to turn against his fellow mankind to engage in such acts of horror?
I was reading a particular social psych text which simply stated the reason behind such abhorrent acts as obedience... One's fear of possible punishment to be meted out when failing to comply to rules and regulations leads him to comply at times to engage in such cruelty. It must be noted, however, that most of the time an individual is seen to experience distress when asked to inflict pain upon others... To me i felt this explanation was lacking... Afterall if so many under Hitler were experiencing distress at what they were doing then why couldn't they all have co operated with one another to overthrow him... just like in a mutiny on a ship where the crew turns against the captain... it seems to me that fear more than lack of compassion has led to much bloodshed and violence around the world... plain fear...
fear...once it grips hold of the heart of an individual it will not let go of it easily... the way i see it... fear transcended down from hitler all the way to those below in the masses... whoever was directly under the orders of hitler feared him and thus complied to his orders and in a similar fashion those in ranks below him followed... in short it was like a chain reaction in which several thousands were caused to fear Hitler and his power...
this chain reaction leads to a system... just look at our own lives... we are all part of a bigger stystem... we never stop to think about the systems in place and just dutifully carry out our roles as a student, family member, colleague etc... it is in this way i feel that the Germans carried out their roles under Hitler... cos once a system is established and in place it's in the nature of many to not question but rather follow what the majority and follow the norms...
so apart frm the essay's main pt on group consciousness i wld like to add on my own viewpt...i personally feel individuality and courage are two elements many modern day societys are in need of... although it is important for each person to adhere to some common groundrules like the law( it would be chaotic otherwise!) one also needs to develop a mindset where one thinks for one's self and questions the validity and credibility of all that surrounds him/her... it is crucial that checks and balances are kept in regards to the systems... therefore, a person who feels that things around him are not right should not be afraid to express his own viewpt....this is what i mean by courage...courage to voice out one's opinions and to act in a way that's socially desirable...
well that's just my two cents worth... i'm not sure if it's insightful but it's what i believe in...
posted by silent wonderer at 8:44 PM
<< Home