Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing

The past century, dubbed the 'Age of Genocide,ΓÇ¥ saw more than 60 million people murdered to meet the needs of the state. One unassailable fact behind this litany of human conflict and suffering is that political, social, or religious groups wanting to commit mass murder are never hindered by a lack of willing executioners. How is it that ordinary people like you and me, commit such extraordinary evil?

[@TheDrummersVadeMecum]

People commit harrassment, assault, murder, rape, robbery everyday in stable societies with solid legal systems. Remove the social structures, add every man for himself situation due to civil breakdown and war. Throw in some hunger and starvation, social and personal resentment... Genocide isnt a big stretch from where you are now.

[@maramawityibeltal5434]

I am from Ethiopia and the genocide is happening. just 3 weeks ago my uncle was kidnapped and then killed just because he was Amhara in Oromia region. whenever i see and hear these inhuman act and mass murders and slaughters aganist the Amhara people I am not amazed by the people who are doing it but by those who are indifferent.

[@grannygear1001]

So sorry. The only answer to the human tragedy is not religion with it’s merited favor, but people knowing & trusting their Creator/Saviour and His wonderful Amazing Grace. Then we have power from above to improve by faith.

[@randbarrett8706]

The lecture doesn’t actually begin until after 12 minutes in

[@gabirican4813]

And the best parts probably after 25-30 minutes.

[@Johnconno]

@@gabirican4813 How does it end? Bad news?

[@anaanguiano6658]

Thanks Rand and Gabi

[@sebastiankruiz-huidobro3645]

ty

[@coimbralaw]

We didn’t ask you to time it, scum bag.

[@viveviveka2651]

Once people lose their sense of the sacredness of life, the stage is set for all hell to break loose. Arrogance, ego, assumptions of superiority need to go. We need to be in touch with the sacredness of all lives. (Schweitzer has some good things to say on this subject.)

[@armanmkhitaryan27]

31:15 If the Herera slaughter and the Holodomor (the mass starvation of Ukrainian and let's not forget Russian peasants too) constitute acts of genocide, which I believe they do, then there's no ground whatsoever other than blunt cynicism and self-censoring, not to call the British concentration camps in the Boer war an instance of genocide too. The British colonial military first destroyed the Boers' crops and farms, then concentrated primarily women and children in mass camps, deprived them of food and medicine (even if there wasn't enough of both even for the British troops themselves doesn't matter because they caused the crisis, they are solely responsible for it, and other than that the war criminal Kitchener's high command didn't inform the British government and public about the ongoing devastation) and caused about 28 000 deaths among the Boer population (mostly children and women) and also an unknown number of black people's deaths. It's been speculated a number of 14 000 but it's also widely acknoledged that the real figure will probably never known since the British didn't care much to take record of black deaths and their overall situation. So, 50% of Boer children died in the British camps before rumor spread out and reached England. More deaths later on. If that's not genocide then what is? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_concentration_camps

[@viveviveka2651]

Devaluation of life may be the root cause. An antidote is reverence for life. Albert Schweitzer spoke well on this subject. Loss of arrogance, ego, and assumptions of superiority helps quite a bit. Other lives are devalued by these.

[@user-rq1pq5gy6y]

To the professor. Yes. I agree with the idea of understanding what got somebody on the path to transformation. It is unfortunate to know that what we once thought small (possibly because we are told it is small which causes reversal hurt and confusion.. or if we took it for granted or never had it).. the smallest thing will turn you. And that thing is everything you did not receive and lived a lifetime waiting and believing in it I’m assuming. I think something is very precious and very very delicate inside the worst criminals. Something so tiny can cause such a large reversal.. and entire change.. what hurt that person?.. what small thing made it’s way into this gigantic destruction.. what happened in the past.. what broke you.. Normally it is the “gifted and blessed” who turn pure souls into murderers. There are always obligations when you know your position without any doubts.. and if you do not choose to take it.. you’re bound to either fall.. or create the monster who will push your tower over. I appreciate the beginning with Cain and Abel. There is a certain sadness in the story when I try to put it together. Honestly, I appreciate his answer but that always makes me wonder where his smart ass got it & I do remember learning sir lucifer casted the first joke and god was not pleased (not funny but kinda..?🙃).. if he were casted out.. and god didn’t think earth time at the moment.. or something that just slipped on details.. is it possible that with the help of “god” she bore the first.. Cain.. Without gods help next: Abel. I think often of them when I think of the whole race battle hitler discusses. Why did God chose Abel over Cain.. Did he tell them they were in a competition? That he was gonna pick the best one? Did Cain think he was just doing what god asked and then bam.. feelings crushed? Didn’t they technically believe that there mother and father were special and all that..? So he has this idea that god loves us so much if that is the case.. Wouldn’t that break you?.. He chose. Why? He didn’t ask who’s was better, Lord.. So.. what are you doing God? I assume that they looked rather different than each other. But born possibly twins & that’s why it’s such a conflict. Same womb.. different tombs.. Do you think Cain still walks the earth? Didn’t god make Adam in his image..to have a human time bubble safely of himself? Didn’t Cain just repeat his action? Idk.. I feel bad for Abel but.. I’m assuming it was quick. Bigger impact if you know how different you are from your brother. But his answer is all on God. I get what Cain is saying. God.. you knew it would happen, so I did it knowing you’d let it happen.. So who’s my brothers keeper if not me?.. You?.. Ouch. I love them all. I just have my doubts and fantasy ideas about it sometimes. What if the Carpathian Mountains decide more than beautiful scenery and different penny dreadfuls and infamous folklore. What if that’s where it began. Same ridge, different sides. Werewolves, eventually the side on the right would pack up and establish life in Latin America & then US known as the Native Americans. Creek Indians/Muscogee but aka ancient Mayan.. Then you have the left side of the ridge.. Vlad.. England.. Edinburg vampire hive.. Immortality which lies on the land to the left of the ridge coincidentally. We are both Jews.. just different. We are ancient. You are chosen. I don’t think he understood that he was looking for the name Ashkenaz.: that’s German land. Noah’s descendants. So they say. Also Babylon notoriously. The elite derive out of that mixture unfortunately. And then there are the others.. who look like me but are human completely. A race hiding in a race,. Difficult.

[@bayoulafourche]

I was hoping the larger part of this discussion was why the German people stood by and did nothing for the most part. When I study genocides around the world, this is what puzzles me the most, and I think many others as well.

[@Okcharisma]

Because They didn’t have social media and smart phones

[@bayoulafourche]

@@Okcharisma lol yep. That would've helped. This really bothered me so I did a ton of research. It certainly didn't happen overnight. Maybe it bothered me because when I was in the military, I married a German man with a very large family. I'm french and Jewish and come from an artsy tartsy family. Our cultures eventually clashed but I was so impressed with these good people. I was too young to have the courage to broach the subject with them at the time. But I like you're answer lol

[@BasementEngineer]

Since the mass media has lied to us since forever, why would you believe what it says about Germans? As far as I am concerned, the media can propound what they wish; I won't believe a thing until I am shown authenticated forensic evidence for whatever is alleged.

[@NINA-mq2vu]

The prediction about Ethiopia came to pass. What happened to Tigrayan Ethiopians are heartbreaking. And just like you have stated in your lecture, the world has refused to call by it’s name. They are calling it crime against humanity. They just want to protect their allies.😢 Thank you for this brilliant lecture. I have learned a lot about genocide and human nature in general. Let alone the Rwanda man who has lost his wife and two children, I am oceans away from Tigray, Ethiopia but my life has been consumed by the genocide for over two years. I don’t think I will ever be the same person again. I haven’t celebrated any holidays since the genocide. I’m trying to find meaning in all these unfortunate events.

[@rutembesashabikumi2282]

It's Terrible that they came back and live near survivors,

[@Dark_Vader888]

Christopher Browning would have been the best speaker for this subject.

[@jaysee7283]

Did someone leak your company training manual online?

[@wrydless5318]

thank you

[@mechanicalengineering6848]

The impermissible is banked off-of the permissible. Self-determination, secession, nullification or, reap what you sow.

[@user-iu3pe8ij9j]

After nearly 40 years of Campaigning and trying to make this World a better place, i've also tried to understand why the World is the Hell on Earth that it is,...... the conclusion i've reached is never underestimate the capacity of ordinary people to commit, either through acts of commission or omission, acts of extraordinary evil, seems to me that the seeds of Evil are within us all, it only takes the right conditions for them to grow and for that evil to consume us and enable us to perpetrate the most horrific actions!!.

[@anastasiaanastasia1209]

This is true and people should read these words over and over again until they are seared in their souls of what an ordinary man can do. When the daily fear infused rhetoric starts to dehumanize your fellow man and neighbor is pitted against neighbor the downward spiral into the abyss is near. Most men are weak and even made weaker in groups. Bowing down to “a small man in search of a balcony” is not uncommon. Quote attributed to the always wise and witty Jimmy Breslin.

[@viveviveka2651]

Albert Schweitzer put a lot of his life into this issue, and came up with some good understandings, solutions, writings, and positive approaches. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverence_for_Life

[@greyberet1]

Read "Heart of Darkness". The subject of this account, Mister Kurtz, goes from being a missionary to presiding over the killing ... his reported final words: The horror -- the horror ... to what was Kurtz referring? Think about it, draw your own conclusions ...

[@Johnconno]

That's 'Colonel Kurtz', soldier...

[@mikemorrel8312]

They normalize it to start like a deadly insurrection was just a public tour.

[@nancythane4104]

Would this be a matter of personality disorder? How much of the population are psycopaths vs. those who are not? Have there been any studies and how do they correlate to the Ruwanda or Holocaust society and their perpetrators?

[@edwardarruda7215]

This book title was rejected by another authors editor because becoming can also mean beautiful... This has been done before.

[@RustyOrange71]

Begins @ 00:37:50

[@jimkolfaz7581]

If only

[@250txc]

This guy states at the start of all this that the GRs and then the people he interviewed, we all normal. Then after the 1 hr mark, he states how these killer slaughter someone as simple as he steps on a bug. That statement from him indicates that killer-person has no empathy for who he is killing. This is in direct contradiction to points he has previously made. Meaning, this speakers' words are flawed

[@shivathedestroyer2816]

I find it alarming that he allows humour to intertwine with his lecture. There is nothing funny about killing. And, no where through the whole lecture is the recognition that it will happen again, that the ominous warning signs are there if we should just choose to look. What is there not to understand if the story of Cain and Abel sets the stage for the history of Mankind?

[@nstl440]

Good subject But brought by Microsoft makes me cautious.

[@jaysee7283]

As it should!!

[@annadupont7615]

Microsoft provided the room. The talk was organized by the Washington State Holocaust Education Research Center, and the speaker is an academic researcher at Keene College, a public college in New Hampshire about his area of research. No relation to Microsoft.

[@wovokanarchy]

Interestingly, he leaves out Vietnam, the Iraq invasion, and Afghanistan.

[@lisalasoya2898]

In listening to your lecture you point out "that ordinary people are subjected to these kinds of atrocities." But, I feel that there is Bureaucratic government poll or pull whom pick the dumbest poorest people that would fall prey to these barbaric behaviors. In fact, the rise of self-regulation was stipulated by Federal officials delegated to confirm some of the suspicions of reformers who for years had counseled that uncontrolled influence of median had created an undesirable and dangerous socializing force. Sabotage movie Alfred Hitchcock approximately 6:27 Scotland Yard officer says the same notion "they pick the dumbest people." Figures of Justice 9-11-2009_Final

[@RileyRampant]

interesting, but Mr. Waller doesn't actually deal with HOW ordinary people become genocidal killers but merely assert THAT they do, and provide certain generalizations about context. the critical differences between the volunteers & non-voluteers seem to have slipped thru his fingers. he does have some good insights, however, it's not a wast of time.

[@maxheadrom3088]

Given how he's using the word 'genocide', the Korean War should be in that list. Also, unfortunately, the Roma and other genocides by the nazis were not mentioned. It is a great lecture and the guy does a really important work - don't get me wrong.

[@fwcolb]

Your KZbin image is of General Augusto whose government killed at least 3,197 people for political reasons. There is no definition of genocide that covers Pinochet's crimes. Since you do not seem to know what genocide is, I did not watch the video.

[@250txc]

Here is another flaw at the core of his talk: This guy states at the start of all this that the GRs and then the people he interviewed, we all normal. Then after the 1 hr mark, he states how these killer slaughter someone as simple as he steps on a bug. That statement from him indicates that killer-person has no empathy for who he is killing. This is in direct contradiction to points he has previously made. Meaning, this speakers' words are flawed

[@tomtom-qj4fv]

In Ethiopia Tigray people genocide happened 2020 as you predicted it. Tigray people minority killed by two majority people, two dictators by the help of turkey and UAE.

[@SedriqMiers]

Simples............just ask a Likudnik !

[@leorivers7759]

PS: His faith in Burma was so mis-placed. Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar has purmitted the snowballing growth of anti-Muslem activity on the part of the military. I have no idea is she is just powerless or complicit. but how things change!

[@sakuranooka]

I think it was hope rather than faith

[@anthonynichols8702]

Everyone has learnt how

[@justaroot4315]

That is BS.

[@heathermaich8966]

Does anyone know who is this speaker?

[@jjdonnellan1]

James Waller. Check out his books on Amazon.

[@marcosffontes]

Pinochet was latin_american dictador, but no massmurder.

[@vrdix]

Unfortunately Myanmar was correctly identified.

[@utpalbanerjee382]

You forgot to mention the name of USA acted against Red Indians!

[@lisaenglert3202]

True but Native American is the preferred name. He did use the Native Americans’ actions against the white settlers as an example. I too wish he’d mentioned how Native Americans were wiped out by them.

[@utpalbanerjee382]

@@lisaenglert3202 Yes, I agree with you.

[@jugdertemuujin4014]

How about native Americans?

[@Johnconno]

How about us Irish!

[@programmabilities]

The speaker, why did he fail to interview survivors and perpetrators of the rolling Nakba--the genocide of the Palestinians? Is this his complicity? This is perpetrator behavior. What transformed him into a killer?

[@250txc]

This all sounded weak and nothing very enlightening really. He said the nazis scum was smart? Was that a news break? -- This guy states at the start of all this that the GRs and then the people he interviewed, we all normal. Then after the 1 hr mark, he states how these killer slaughter someone as simple as he steps on a bug. That statement from him indicates that killer-person has no empathy for who he is killing. This is in direct contradiction to points he has previously made. Meaning, this speakers' words are flawed

[@ostnupdates9005]

He didnt go into European colonialism and how that created genocidal ideology against Indigenous peoples. The culturally embedded implicit bias and hypocrisy exists within these academics when they speak about genocide within notorious genocidal European colonies such as Australia, US etc genocide finds its roots within colonialism but doesnt get a mention. We know the truth

[@OGPepsiman]

I can’t fucking wait to put this plan into action.

[@tylervanmont6835]

What do you mean?

[@jstodalk]

There is a solution. To avoid the killing, we need to help these people with their economic well being They need access to our western lifestyles. Most of the genocides in Africa are over water and metal roof shingles according to the speaker. They need access to electricity and fresh water. If we help them develop economically, we should be able to stop or at least slow the killing.

[@RustyOrange71]

'Access' - in what sense?

[@richardnailhistorical3445]

WRONG AGAIN............. life is a struggle and should not be alleviated with artificial relief from outside sources without a serious plan for 'worthiness' to be achieved otherwise you have thrown a small match into the pile!

[@alexandraathay]

If only our governments around the world hadn't been siphoning off our foreign aid donations to line their own pockets!?

[@Susieq26754]

He never mentions evil. Evil can be perpetuated by normal, attractive smart people. Because Satan is a angel of light himself. That's why he is so deceptive.

[@marshamarshamarsha4567]

You need to look at the whites in South Africa and what they are facing.

[@stephensdygert7600]

All have sinned. And come short of the glory of God.

[@kiwamura9]

You need to revamp your talk with this aware audience! Your presentation 'feels' superficial and does not carry the gravitas.

[@viveviveka2651]

This one is entirely different, and through the eyes of a child. It is the best thing I have ever seen on this subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV6tmmSbZ7OJh6M

[@donnadsanders7534]

I’m disappointed with this,

[@250txc]

This guy states at the start of all this that the GRs and then the people he interviewed, we all normal. Then after the 1 hr mark, he states how these killer slaughter someone as simple as he steps on a bug. That statement from him indicates that killer-person has no empathy for who he is killing. This is in direct contradiction to points he has previously made. Meaning, this speakers' words are flawed

[@250txc]

@Zeug DingsAt best you are a BOT. Most likely, just stupid, yea!

[@viveviveka2651]

Here is the link to an exceptionally powerful firsthand treatment and presentation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV6tmmSbZ7OJh6M

[@antoniomantovani3147]

Is and was normal

[@patrickdale2603]

How boring can this get!

[@viveviveka2651]

If you want something better on this subject, you might look into en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverence_for_Life An exceptionally good presentation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV6tmmSbZ7OJh6M

[@charlessandor5012]

Why is the speaker keep saying that only six million or so Jews were killed in the German haulocast when the number killed is somewhere between eleven to fifteen million were killed. These five to nine million people are the forgotten

[@ritabarcar]

12:34

[@carausiuscaesar5672]

Read books by David Irving on this topic.

[@stevejohnson5014]

Why ? He’s a fucking idiot. If anybody reads this , do yourself a favour and DON’T read anything by Irving.

[@RD-sx2ei]

Sure Steve Johnson and nobody should download this PDF either. www.thechristianidentityforum.net/downloads/Jewish-War.pdf

[@laurencewaring8039]

David Irving the completely discredited ‘historian’? Weird advice.

[@thevillaaston7811]

@@laurencewaring8039 David Irving the completely discredited ‘historian’? Yes. Starting with his book on PQ17 - which got him in court - not for the last time.

[@sanderroberti8259]

Á

[@drbrainstein1644]

Damn I thought this was about the rotten fruits of communism... Peace ✌🏻

[@melanieclark2668]

Capitalism has far more bitter fruits for far more workers than communism. You talk like a bourgie, comrade.

[@drbrainstein1644]

Melanie Clark Couldn’t we argue that class struggle is based on education and individual capabilities??? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like to see loop holes for the rich... I don’t like to see a democracy elected by the people, elected for the people in the hands of special interests and the rich... I mean given the fact that city dwellers and large concentrations of people is unnatural in the sense of food,, waste and resources/on their own they can’t live off the land... is this not what also leads to class struggle and unfairness??? in the end historically, communism has led to mass starvation in its quest to destroy what they deem.... racial trash!

[@tracer740]

@@drbrainstein1644 - Up until (but not including) your 4th paragraph, you produced a persuasive trsponse ...

[@e.znamini3241]

@@melanieclark2668 Capitalism, for the past 20 years, has been taking over 100,000 people out of poverty every single DAY (world bank stats). Compare that to mass murder of at least over 60 million people (more like 100 million) when countries attempted communism.

[@tomseeberg6509]

Why do the US take all the honour of making WWII to stop? There where also 4 others that contributed to the war,s ending. Americans has taken the honours from all others and making it their own, what is not good. Is it like many other things that america socalled want to be the strongest and best in the world?? But actually they are NOT the greatest nation in the world. Think about the other countries who contributed to the end of WWII. They where just as great and maybe even more great than the americans

[@BasementEngineer]

The British, French, USA, all started the war. They sure as hell don't deserve credit for ending it.

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

Would this have been the history of the human race if there were never religion? Doesn’t all religions claim that the god of their religion requires them to go somewhere and commit a complete destruction of the people there?

[@dorijohnson9266]

That's ridiculous

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

@@dorijohnson9266 Not an answer

[@e.znamini3241]

Friedrich Nietzsche answered your question over 130 years ago my friend. We’ve killed God and there’s not enough water for us to wash the blood off of our hands.

[@Kali_Yugahhhh]

Microsoft sponsored this?! Ahahahahhaa