The power of distorted information and negligence

As I reflect on history through my daily routine, it’s easy to observe a troubling consistency: while the faces and methods of people who promote hate may change, their tactics, manipulation, and propaganda remain remarkably familiar. These approaches exploit fear, emotion, and division to shape opinions, often framing conflicts as a simple tale of oppressor versus oppressed. This strategic narrative doesn’t just emerge in today’s discourse; it’s an ancient and recurring theme.

From the original Philistines to the Amalekites, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans, each of these powers viewed the Jewish people as an obstacle to their own ideology or hegemony, casting them as “other” and stirring resentment. The Greeks and Romans, for example, not only sought to conquer Jewish lands but also aimed to erode Jewish identity, pushing Hellenistic and Roman cultural norms while banning key Jewish practices. Similarly, Christian Europe propagated myths about Jews, embedding centuries of antisemitism into cultural and religious doctrines. By the time of the Crusades, the common message was unmistakably brutal: Jews were deemed eternal outsiders, demonized as threats to Christian society. These narratives cemented hate into the public consciousness and relied on constant repetition and cleverly crafted messaging to appeal to the average person who otherwise might not have formed an opinion.

In the modern era, these same tactics persist but have evolved with technology, marketing, and communication science. Now, those with a platform often employ the “carrot and stick” approach, mixing supposed “allyship” with sharp accusations, convincing the uninformed or apathetic audience to adopt a particular view without critical thought. They appeal to emotions with charged words, stirring an audience’s sense of justice or outrage by painting issues in stark binaries of “oppressed” and “oppressor.” This framing makes it easy for influencers, organizations, and even governments to polarize a complex issue, presenting a narrative that is easy to digest and hard to question.

Take the recent surge in anti-Israel narratives, for example. Messaging on social media often portrays Israel as an unequivocal oppressor, ignoring the historical context of threats Israel has faced and continues to face. With powerful words and images, pro-Palestinian activists invoke emotional responses, pushing a perspective that dismisses Israel’s need for defense and security. Words like “apartheid” or “occupation” are strategically repeated, solidifying a specific emotional response even in those who may not know the history. These tactics effectively spoon-feed a narrative, making it difficult for those without knowledge of the conflict to critically engage.

This manipulation often feigns concern for justice but subtly plants seeds of resentment. By pretending to “listen” or “support” a cause, advocates avoid preaching overtly, instead opting to subtly guided opinions. Meanwhile, anyone who questions or offers a counter-view is swiftly labeled as complicit in oppression. This tactic—accusing and dismissing rather than engaging in honest debate—distracts from the core issue, deflecting scrutiny by shifting the focus to anyone who might disrupt the narrative.

Examples of such tactics are not only in the media but also historically institutionalized. In medieval Europe, Jews were portrayed as threats to society and “enemies within” during times of plague, economic crisis, or political instability, though there was no rational basis for these accusations. Similarly, under the Ottoman Empire, Jews were often tolerated but subjected to heavy taxation and restrictive laws, which conveniently reinforced the message of their subordinate status. Even as Jews contributed culturally and economically to these societies, they were repeatedly singled out, their progress stifled through laws and social biases.

The Nazi regime advanced manipulation and propaganda against the Jewish people to unprecedented levels, distorting reality and recruiting fervent nationalists to carry out horrific atrocities. Nazi propaganda didn’t merely spread hate; it meticulously crafted a narrative that dehumanized Jews, portraying them as societal parasites unfit for a world fixated on so-called “racial purity” and the “survival of the fittest.” This propaganda permeated every facet of German life, conditioning citizens to accept, and even embrace, the persecution of their Jewish neighbors as a form of patriotism.

To sustain this machine of hatred, the Nazis strategically recruited and indoctrinated individuals into the propaganda apparatus. The Hitler Youth, for instance, trained young Germans to internalize Nazi ideology from an early age. Through schooling and paramilitary-style camps, children were taught to idolize Hitler, view Jews as subhuman, and commit wholeheartedly to the Reich’s agenda. Teachers, filmmakers, and writers were also co-opted to reinforce antisemitic themes across media, education, and public events, creating an all-encompassing narrative in which Jews were consistently scapegoated as the root of Germany’s problems.

Propaganda films like Der Ewige Jude (“The Eternal Jew”) further amplified this hate, depicting Jews as dangerous outsiders. In classrooms, biology was distorted to support racial pseudoscience, “proving” Aryan superiority over Jews and other groups. This systematic conditioning led even ordinary citizens to accept — and participate in — violence against Jews. As Nazi propaganda fed on pseudoscientific ideas about “racial hygiene” and promoted state-overseen “survival of the fittest,” these twisted ideals spilled over from social discrimination to political persecution and, ultimately, mass extermination.

The result was a horrifyingly effective machine of hatred that nearly succeeded in eradicating the Jewish people from Europe. By merging propaganda with state policy, the Nazis created an environment where antisemitism became a national duty, where hatred became normalized, and where science, stripped of ethics, justified genocide. This horrific chapter stands as a stark reminder of how manipulation, when unchecked, can lead a society down a path from social isolation to cultural annihilation — and ultimately, to physical destruction.

These manipulative strategies aim to sow discord and deepen divides. However, they are unsustainable. Historically, people have eventually seen through the deceit, exposing the hate-driven agenda for what it is. But this awakening often comes at a painful cost—generations endure suffering, relationships are fractured, and the societal wounds take time to heal. And while this awareness is rising, the cost has been immense, and many innocent lives have been hurt along the way.

Yet, the Jewish people have endured, standing together in resilience. Rooted in values like Tikkun Olam, which means “repairing the world,” Jews strive not only for their survival but for the betterment of all. Israel, despite facing relentless hatred, continues to contribute to the world through technology, medicine, and humanitarian aid, often even assisting nations or groups that hold animosity toward it. This commitment to healing and contributing is evident in Israel’s outreach to nations affected by natural disasters and its medical aid to conflict zones, regardless of political alliances. This enduring commitment to humanity’s collective progress serves as a reminder that the Jewish people care not only for one another but for the world at large.

Misguided perception often overrides reality, influenced heavily by biases and personal viewpoints. It’s a phenomenon where the same image or event can evoke entirely different interpretations, much like viewing a “6” from one angle and a “9” from another. Both perspectives may feel justified, but each is incomplete on its own. This is a powerful reminder of how subjective reality can become — how easily we convince ourselves that our view is not only accurate but also absolute.

Recently, a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted this dynamic in a troubling way. The post featured a black-and-white photograph of Anne Frank, edited to show her riding a motorcycle adorned with colorful Palestinian flags. The caption read, “Isn’t it strange that a Jew would lose their ever-loving mind over a picture of Anne Frank wearing a Keffiyeh… but have no problem killing thousands of innocent babies, and laughing and mocking the dead. There is something extremely wrong with these people.”

This post starkly illustrates how distorted perceptions can escalate into harmful messaging. The individual’s comment not only misrepresents the realities of the Israel-Palestinian conflict but also spreads a narrative of deep-seated prejudice, where Jews are portrayed as gleefully complicit in violence. This messaging, detached from actual events, fails to recognize that Israel targets terrorist infrastructure with tragic civilian casualties as an unintended consequence — a reality of war that Israel itself acknowledges and mourns. Yet, the post frames Israel and Jews at large as indifferent or even celebratory, a grotesque mischaracterization intended to provoke outrage.

Such posts exemplify the dangers of misinformation, especially when people absorb these messages without understanding the broader context. Here, the offensive imagery — akin to photoshopping a Hitler mustache onto a world leader — is not meant to provide insight but to inflame. By distorting reality, it manipulates viewers into adopting a one-sided, emotionally charged stance.

The most alarming aspect is how this narrative has taken on a victim-oppressor framework, where complex histories and tragic circumstances are reduced to misleading and inflammatory posts. This individual, while condemning perceived injustices, displays little self-awareness of the harm their words perpetuate. When reality is filtered through a narrow perspective, it fosters polarization, stripping away the possibility for understanding or empathy.

In a world where perception shapes so much of our reality, it’s vital to approach such content critically. Blinded by a single angle, people risk mistaking their viewpoint as the full picture, becoming disconnected from any broader understanding of what they see. And as history shows, such distorted perceptions — when unchallenged — can drive a dangerous wedge, leading to further division rather than any hope for resolution.

As we look to the future, we must recognize that peace will only come when society understands these manipulative tactics for what they are—tools of division meant to perpetuate old hatreds. The moment we realize this and choose to rise above them, we can stand together against hate. For when we seek unity over division, strength over victimhood, and humanity over manipulation, we all win. The Jewish people have demonstrated resilience not only in survival but in their unwavering dedication to uplift humanity. Standing firm against hate, they remind us that, ultimately, the power of hope, kindness, and shared values can—and must—prevail over hate and manipulation.