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Adam Borowski

War shows us who others really are

Did you ever talk to someone living halfway across the world who had criticized your resolve to defend against terrorism? Someone telling you, indeed, pontificating, that negotiations with genocidal maniacs are the only way forward? You sometimes come across these people when you least expect it. Case in point, I have sent my novel to a literary agent for consideration. Her reply?

It’s well-written but the plot is over-the-top. There’s no war in Ukraine, just a crisis. (sic)

Excuse me? Really? Children ripped apart by missiles doesn’t sound like a war to you? Delete contact. Better luck next time.

War shows us who others really are. Indeed, war shows us who we really are. Carefully hidden traits of some people like selfishness and sociopathy, indeed, stupidity, become glaringly obvious.

I have to pinch myself from time to time. How can you casually dismiss mass death? To call these people strange is a compliment. The level of selfishness, stupidity, sociopathy and denial they display is mind-boggling. Sure, my context is different – Ukrainian – but the mentality of people making such misguided comments is the same. You have a lot of conspiracy theorists these days. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good conspiracy. I enjoy reading stories about the unexplained.

But, for God’s sake, how can anyone in their right mind say Hamas is just defending itself against Israeli Satan, or that war in Ukraine is fake? Not, not just the Bucha massacre, but the whole war. Can you believe it?

People making genocidal comments, often with a weird undertone of glee. You know, I’m not the one to believe in demons and possession but, seeing what’s going on around us, I’m starting to wonder if this world really is under attack by evil entities, turning a significant portion of the global population into psychopaths. Some say it’s always been this way. Sure, to an extent. But I don’t recall a time in history where world-class education institutions were so morally warped. No other way to put it.

Some are going to say, ”Well, it’s just like during the Soviet times.” Really? No, sorry. It’s way worse now.

Hamas isn’t doing anything wrong – they are liberators and freedom fighters. Kidnapped flyers taped all over New York City? I’m waiting for some social justice warrior to scream it offends him, her… or whatever pronoun they prefer.

I know it’s obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells reporting for duty but I’ll say it anyway – this world is not just crazy. It’s sliding down a path of a global genocide. I still find it hard to believe but it really looks like history is not so much going to repeat itself, but it’s going to rhyme.

You think you’re safe and it doesn’t concern you because you’re stuck in your little bubble in suburban America?

Martin Niemöller, a German theologian, said,

 

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.

So don’t complain when Hamas, or some other fanatic, comes knocking on your door. As the (luckily – failed) pogrom in Dagestan shows, no one is safe. Anywhere.

You want peace? Mentally prepare for war. And physically, if you can. You will meet terrible people along the way, as well as heroes who don’t wear capes. Heroes on the front and heroes in front of a laptop screen, who battle enemy propaganda and brainwashing with words.

About the Author
Adam Borowski is a technical Polish-English translator with a background in international relations and a keen interest in understanding how regime propaganda brainwashes people so effectively. He's working on a novel the plot of which is set across multiple realities. In the novel, he explores the themes of God, identity, regimes, parallel universes, genocide and brainwashing. His Kyiv Post articles covering a wide range of issues can be found at https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/27
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