A Flexible Democracy

The Butchers' Helper is an art piece depicting the systematic lining up and butchering of Jews as if they were animals. A terrified little girl, whose legs and arms had been cut off after she had been raped by a German soldier is vividly depicted in the corner of the picture. These events reveal the depth of ethnic hatred when people minimize the value and humanity of their neighbors.

These gruesome scenes of the Holocaust were committed against both the Jews and Armenians. Their situation was about the same. Both groups were a prosperous people, who were more economically advanced than the original Germans of the nation. Racial and social class tensions were very high. Think of what might happen if thousands of Mexicans came to the United States and became more economically powerful than Anglo-American Caucasians. Deep envy and jealousy would erupt, and who knows what might happen. Such dangerous emotions of envy and jealousy can lead to all manner of persecutions among people of different races and cultures. In Germany, before the holocaust most Jews were successful and rich but many Germans were poor and needy. Therefore envy and jealousy were dangerous attitudes that turned Germans against Jews.

The question is how and why does humanity destroy humanity? If we examine the situations that lead up to the holocaust, we will see that a lack of unity among people of different races and cultures. Such circumstances create raw emotions that give rise to rude mentalities, especially if one ethnic group is more advanced than the other in terms of wealth and riches. When we consider the economic and financial inequality of the U.S.A., how can the country provide an opportunity for all citizens to have a chance at the pursuit of happiness?

I believe that the best solution for ethnic and racial strife is an inclination toward unity. We must seek to understand other races and cultures. We must be willing to help the underprivileged in society so that they can participate in the American Dream. But the United States government will need to play a dynamic role in bringing peace and unity among multi-cultural groups in America. The traditionally form of government must change to a more flexible form. For example, all people should have excess to money and education, whether rich or poor. But what kind of government can make this happen?

I believe that there is a form of government that will help solve this problem. This kind of government is based on the principle: Love They Neighbor as Thyself. I believe in a flexible social democracy, with a strong policy of self actualization for all oppressive communities in the United States. A flexible social democracy would seek to promote the prosperity of all its citizens. It would support all those that are poor until they can truly believe in themselves as well as their gifts and talents. Many of the less privileged are people who were raised in bad home and family conditions. They have no one to help them out of poverty. This is where the government of a flexible social democracy would come into play, by providing the poor with the basic necessities to advance out of poverty. First of all, this government would use its policy of Self-Actualization through programs to empower people of oppressed cultures and communities to release victimization and to encourage them to make a huge difference in their community. During this empowerment period, the government will supply the basic needs of the oppressed, including food, clothing, and money. Therefore the oppressed people of a community would not be concerned about their basic needs which could interfere with the educational and empowerment process. The government, the church leadership, doctors, psychologist, and the like would play a part in promoting strong communities that care about one another. A flexible social democracy would eliminate culture wars as well as the emotions of envy and strife. Every American would have opportunities to the pursuit of happiness. But when the privileged of a community prospers, while ignoring its less fortunate neighbors, conflicts, wars of culture, strife, envies, and jealousies are born. Because of oppression, groups become separated and very protective of their cultures and identity. Ethnic and cultural separation instead of unity is the reasons for most racial conflict. In the United States, the holocaust- consciousness is alive and well in the daily activities of gang formation, violence, robberies, rapes, and murders. It is no different than the systematic butchering and the mass slaughtering that happened in the holocaust. Our neighbors are just suspicious faces of strangers against whom we must continually protect ourselves. There is little chance of reaching out to create unity even on local levels. Beside, a few communities can't accomplish unity alone. If this was possible, social equality and unity would have accord a long time ago and communities would be peaceful and prosperous. But unless there is unity, a neighborhood, a community, and a nation will be vulnerable to holocaust activities. Therefore, a flexible social democracy could make the difference by empowering and providing the less privilege with the necessary human resources to become a part of the American Dream. A flexible social democracy brings people together by relieving the oppressed from the daily survival challenge. People are than able to focus on empowering themselves to become valuable and contributing members of society.

The IB Holocaust Project: Chronology of Anti-Semitism

What is the Armenian Genocide?

The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies of the University of Minnesota.