Why do you see others as your enemy?

[robocop (actually)]

I am not making this OP to disrespect fallen soldiers or their family. I would not want to disrespect anyone who fallen in war.

But.
People speak of those people are my enemy or that country is our enemy. But have you been there to meet the people who you call enemy? Have they personally hurt you? ( if you been deployed in war, I get it, you would see them as enemy and I don't blame you for that, thank you for your service)

But for us who never come across the people we supposedly "have to see as enemy" in real life.
What make it possible to personally call someone you never met your enemy? This is what I do not understand.

I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

I don't hate other people, but I see others as trying to make me fail.

 

[SigurdReginson]

And you're exactly the type that would believe everything my enemies told you about me and then hate me for just existing and being polite and I'd figure you got the disease.

Ah. Which disease is that?

 

[Piculet]

A portion of them. Not all of them. I don't feel its right to just lump an entire population together and assume they all have the same thoughts and values.

And they all have varying reasons for joining the military. Some have no choice. Others do it because they perceive they will get some benefit out of it. Some do it for patriotic reasons. I don't profess to know what's in the minds of others. I try not to judge.

I didn't think the topic was about declaring all individuals of a particular group enemies.

If someone says in the news that China is an enemy of the United States, would you assume they mean every Chinese tourist and doctor is an enemy?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Yes but the problem I see is that some people or government say example people from Arabic countries are enemies, or people from China is our enemy. But are all Arabic and Chinese people their enemy? Or is it because someone told them that they are?

So people do. I tend to think of them as either self-serving or xenophobic.

I have issues with lots of countries and some religions and policies.
But I've had friends and colleagues from most of those countries and religions too.
I treat individuals as they come.

 

[JustGeorge]

If someone says in the news that China is an enemy of the United States, would you assume they mean every Chinese tourist and doctor is an enemy?

Who knows what the news means half the time...

That's why I quit watching it.

 

[Father Heathen]

Some enemies don't declare themselves. If someone chased you with a knife, would you need them to declare that they are planning to hurt you or would you just assume and apologise later if you were wrong?

Someone attempting to harm or kill me is clearly an enemy. Such actions are declaration enough.

 

[YoursTrue]

I am not making this OP to disrespect fallen soldiers or their family. I would not want to disrespect anyone who fallen in war.

But.
People speak of those people are my enemy or that country is our enemy. But have you been there to meet the people who you call enemy? Have they personally hurt you? ( if you been deployed in war, I get it, you would see them as enemy and I don't blame you for that, thank you for your service)

But for us who never come across the people we supposedly "have to see as enemy" in real life.
What make it possible to personally call someone you never met your enemy? This is what I do not understand.

I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

That is such an interesting question. Jesus said his followers are to love their enemy. You also brought out an interesting point. If someone hurts us, speaks against us, etc., is rough with us, do we consider them an enemy? Interesting question...Very interesting question.

 

[YoursTrue]

Anyone who for any reason wishes me or mine harm is my enemy.

Anyone who seeks to profit at my expense is also my enemy, even if they don't specifically wish me any ill will.

Calling someone "enemy" just identifies them as a threat, it doesn't necessarily require hatred or animosity on either part.

Then, sir, capitalism or virtually any form of economics is not your friend. When I was working I knew I was working just as hard as those who had authority over me to tell me what to do. And I didn't get paid well, even though I was excellent at my job. Sad state of affairs.

 

[chinu]

JOKE:

A man is taking a walk in Central park in New York. Suddenly he sees a little girl being attacked by a pit bull dog . He runs over and starts fighting with the dog. He succeeds in killing the dog and saving the girl’s life. A policeman who was watching the scene walks over and says: “You are a hero, tomorrow you can read it in all the newspapers: “Brave New Yorker saves the life of little girl” The man says: – “But I am not a New Yorker!” “Oh ,then it will say in newspapers in the morning: ‘Brave American saves life of little girl'” – the policeman answers. “But I am not an American!” – says the man. “Oh, what are you then? ” The man says: – “I am an (Arab!).

The next day the newspapers says: “Islamic extremist kills innocent American dog.

 

[Spirit of Light]

JOKE:

A man is taking a walk in Central park in New York. Suddenly he sees a little girl being attacked by a pit bull dog . He runs over and starts fighting with the dog. He succeeds in killing the dog and saving the girl’s life. A policeman who was watching the scene walks over and says: “You are a hero, tomorrow you can read it in all the newspapers: “Brave New Yorker saves the life of little girl” The man says: – “But I am not a New Yorker!” “Oh ,then it will say in newspapers in the morning: ‘Brave American saves life of little girl'” – the policeman answers. “But I am not an American!” – says the man. “Oh, what are you then? ” The man says: – “I am an (Arab!).

The next day the newspapers says: “Islamic extremist kills innocent American dog.

poor Arab... Being mistaken as an American
My way of joking

 

[Mock Turtle]

I am not making this OP to disrespect fallen soldiers or their family. I would not want to disrespect anyone who fallen in war.

But.
People speak of those people are my enemy or that country is our enemy. But have you been there to meet the people who you call enemy? Have they personally hurt you? ( if you been deployed in war, I get it, you would see them as enemy and I don't blame you for that, thank you for your service)

But for us who never come across the people we supposedly "have to see as enemy" in real life.
What make it possible to personally call someone you never met your enemy? This is what I do not understand.

I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

I don't in general see others as enemies, not in any personal sense, and this applies to most everyone. I would see that for some, their beliefs and/or actions or behaviours will be against what I believe to be better for humans, but I do of course realise this is just my own thinking and might not necessarily coincide with what most others might believe. And most of those who tend to fall into this category will have positions of power and/or wealth, such that any acting on their behalf often just don't have a say in what they do - the military being one example, but even here there are limits as to where one can be exonerated from responsibility. Also, some might tend to become enemies when they seem to have certain fixed beliefs which are not amenable to change or not being open to evidence such as to counter such, and where there is clear evidence of such beliefs harming others.

 

[viole]

I am not making this OP to disrespect fallen soldiers or their family. I would not want to disrespect anyone who fallen in war.

But.
People speak of those people are my enemy or that country is our enemy. But have you been there to meet the people who you call enemy? Have they personally hurt you? ( if you been deployed in war, I get it, you would see them as enemy and I don't blame you for that, thank you for your service)

But for us who never come across the people we supposedly "have to see as enemy" in real life.
What make it possible to personally call someone you never met your enemy? This is what I do not understand.

I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

I am both a Swede and Swiss citizen. Therefore, I am quite neutral.

Ciao

- viole

 

[blü 2]

I am not making this OP to disrespect fallen soldiers or their family. I would not want to disrespect anyone who fallen in war.

But.
People speak of those people are my enemy or that country is our enemy. But have you been there to meet the people who you call enemy? Have they personally hurt you? ( if you been deployed in war, I get it, you would see them as enemy and I don't blame you for that, thank you for your service)

But for us who never come across the people we supposedly "have to see as enemy" in real life.
What make it possible to personally call someone you never met your enemy? This is what I do not understand.

I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

In wartime, it's very usual for leaders political and military to demonize the enemy. If they're collectively and individually hateful by nature, it makes it easier to kill them or to read about what your side has done killing and disadvantaging them.

Prayers for success against / the destruction of your enemy are also very usual.

That's how tribes work.

In peacetime, as you suggest, other courses of action are better.

 

[Spirit of Light]

In wartime, it's very usual for leaders political and military to demonize the enemy. If they're collectively and individually hateful by nature, it makes it easier to kill them or to read about what your side has done killing and disadvantaging them.

Prayers for success against / the destruction of your enemy are also very usual.

That's how tribes work.

In peacetime, as you suggest, other courses of action are better.

In wartime, if you come across a wounded "enemy" what would you do?

Personally i would treat him/her and save they life

 

[loverofhumanity]

I am not making this OP to disrespect fallen soldiers or their family. I would not want to disrespect anyone who fallen in war.

But.
People speak of those people are my enemy or that country is our enemy. But have you been there to meet the people who you call enemy? Have they personally hurt you? ( if you been deployed in war, I get it, you would see them as enemy and I don't blame you for that, thank you for your service)

But for us who never come across the people we supposedly "have to see as enemy" in real life.
What make it possible to personally call someone you never met your enemy? This is what I do not understand.

I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

Hi Amanaki. Where does it arise from? I believe it is fostered by ‘otherness’ or the ‘us and them’ mentality. When groups are formed often there is an egotistical element of superiority involved that is unspoken. We, all humanity, are, in reality, one human species, one race. But for power, wealth,& superiority motives, competitive groups or ‘fiefdoms’ have been established all over the world. It’s all about domination and control I believe.

Our world of only one human race, I believe, is sadly divided by politicians and religious leaders into fiefdoms of ‘us and them’. Each claiming it is the best system of governance or the ‘only path to truth’.

This is not diversity but ‘otherness’ as diversity does not compete with itself but ‘us and them’ does. With the us and them mentality, there is always an ‘enemy ‘. ‘The one who doesn’t accept exactly what I believe is my enemy’ is a silent mantra spoken in the heart of many but not necessarily using the word enemy. It’s a silent ‘otherness’ that is represented in the form of an ‘us and them’ lifestyle.

The world, I believe, does not unite, because it views ‘ others, or other groups, or fiefdoms, or political systems or religious beliefs as it’s ‘enemy’. It’s a ‘passive ‘ style of enemy where each group doesn’t say outwardly that the others are the enemy but yet won’t unite with them. The spoken word is irrelevant here. They won’t unite. That says it all.

This clinging to fiefdoms for power, wealth or egotistical reasons prevents humankind from coming together as one. Thus, instead of having the power of a mighty ocean, we are reduced to powerless drops unable alone, to solve our myriads of universal problems such as war, poverty and climate deterioration. Now, another, COVID has fused or is trying to fuse us into one entity to save ourselves. The day must come when the barriers are broken and all the drops merge into a great ocean of humanity which together will cooperatively face snd overcome our obstacles to create a world civilisation.

But we have to see ourselves as one before that happens, and all work together for the benefit of the whole.

 

[blü 2]

In wartime, if you come across a wounded "enemy" what would you do?

Personally i would treat his/her and sabel they life

I've never been tested on that score.

But I'd like to think that if the wounded of my side had received help, giving help to a wounded enemy after making sure he wasn't bait for a trap, or intending a suicide mission with a grenade (&c), would be my instinct too.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I've never been tested on that score.

But I'd like to think that if the wounded of my side had received help, giving help to a wounded enemy after making sure he wasn't bait for a trap, or intending a suicide mission with a grenade (&c), would be my instinct too.

Thank you glad you would do so too.
( I noticed my written error in my reply, I fixed that now)

 

[1213]

...
I make the tread to understand where the "enemy" of our fellow human beings arise.

Enemy is a person who attacks against me, for example by lying/deceiving, by wanting bad things for me.

 

[SomeRandom]

Then, sir, capitalism or virtually any form of economics is not your friend. When I was working I knew I was working just as hard as those who had authority over me to tell me what to do. And I didn't get paid well, even though I was excellent at my job. Sad state of affairs.

Seize the means of production, comrade!!!

 

[MonkeyFire]

You cant be happy until you help someone you identify as an enemy.