A Call for Empathy and Compassion in Troubled Times
In a world where headlines compete for shock value, portraying scenes of unimaginable horror, and social media amplifies the divisions, it’s easy to lose sight of humanity amid the turmoil. In the past two years, I have read stories of human suffering that I wished I had never read, and in the past days, I have seen videos I never wanted to see. In times of large-scale atrocity, I hope more people would stop for a moment and consider that you find many families who never wished for violence on all opposing sides in these conflicts. Children would love to play without fear, and parents dream of watching their kids grow up in peace. These individuals harbor no hatred towards families on the other side. Their grievances are often directed at systems, leaders, armies, or those who commit acts of terror, violence, rape, or injustice, but not at fellow human beings in general.Historically, we’ve witnessed how systematic suppression of rights, the promotion of fear, and cunning propaganda can breed hatred among different groups within society.
The pages of the Second World War are filled with examples of millions who learned to despise others based on race, religion, nationality, and various other grounds.Yet, what surprises me as I scroll through the tweets on the platform once known as Twitter is the overwhelming volume of messages seething with hatred. Many of these posts come from individuals without a direct stake in the conflicts. They live in countries with freedom of speech and free access to information, yet they radicalize within the echo chambers of social media. While enjoying a beer on a terrace in a peaceful country, they randomly type the suggestion to wipe country x off the map or promote hashtags like FinishThem before ordering a second round.
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