Re the message from Sam Keen on *The Faces of the Enemy* relayed by Linda Woolf (see below):
Responding to an item like this in less than laudatory terms is likely to stir up a hornets' nest, but here goes! I've not seen the book in question, and don't doubt that it provides valuable material for educators to consider using in the classroom. (I hope it illustrates with examples taken *from all sides* the demonisation of the "enemy" that is occurring in current conflicts. For instance to the examples quoted illustrating "how enemies are dehumanized so they may be destroyed without remorse by portraying them as barbarians, terrorists, sadists, aggressors and enemies of God" could be added "the Great Satan", or instigators of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, as widely propagated in the Arab world [http://www.adl.org/special_reports/protocols/protocols_recycled.asp]). Throughout human history the potential enemy has been demonized by protagonists the better to whip up hostility against them. And yet I have reservations about one aspect of the statement submitted by Sam: >> It is our conviction that nothing is more urgent in our time than pondering the ways in which enmity and warfare are perpetuated and how we may wage peace more effectively.<< Who among us is not (in principle) in favour of peace, and against the perpetuation of warfare? My reservation is the implication (as I see it) that one should only advocate peaceful responses to any situation, and that to do otherwise is to be on the side of inhumanity. (Maybe I've read too much into this sentence, so I'm happy to be corrected if I've over-interpreted it.) Would that that were so, but human social and political affairs are frequently much more complex than such a position allows for. Does anyone seriously think that the massacre of many thousands of Bosnian Muslim men at Srebrenica could have been prevented by peaceful means? (And the determination of the people in power in Serbia (and Croatia) to achieve their goals by military means was evidently part and parcel of their policies from the very beginning of the conflict in the region at that time.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/675945.stm Is there any indication that the current attempts by peaceful means to counter the more wide-ranging atrocities at Darfur perpetrated by (or with the connivance of) the Sudanese Government is having much effect on the continuing slaughter? http://www.darfurgenocide.org/ http://www.savedarfur.org/ I'm not advocating any specific policy on these (or any other) situations, to which there are no simple solutions. I only wish to make the point that the argument that peaceful means of addressing some situations may not be effective should not be omitted by default in the kind of class discussion suggested by Sam. The idealism of the young (and I was there myself once) may lead them too easily to embrace positions that may apparently occupy the ethical high ground, but possibly at the expense of a realistic appreciation of the complexity of human affairs in all their messiness (and, all too often, intractability). At this point I'd like to heartedly endorse Joe Hatcher's invaluable suggestion in regard to the teaching of controversial subjects (25 February): "In fact, I often ask proponents of A to cite negatives of A and positives of B; it's a good exercise in flexing one's thinking. After we generally agree on the positives and negatives of each alternative, one can then point out that some negatives and positives are weighted more heavily by some people than by others, resulting in different preferences. Helps avoid demonizing." Allen Esterson [For affiliation, consult previous posts :-) ] --------------------- > Sat, 26 Feb 2005 > Author: "Linda Woolf, Ph.D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Faces of the enemy > Hi Jean-Marc, > > Here is the original message that went out to the list. > > Best, > > Linda > > > Would you be willing to put this notice in your newsletter and email > letter? Educators for Social Responsibility have done so. I have about > 250 copies to give away and I want to get them into the hands of > teachers. I will be happy to send you a copy.... Sam Keen > > Sam Keen > 16331 Norrbom Rd. > Sonoma, Ca 95476 > 707 996 9010 > www.samkeen.com > samkeen@ direcway.com > > I am sorry to say my book The Faces of the Enemy has never been more > relevant than in the current state of warfare between the United States > and its enemies--- terrorists and the "axis of evil." The new 2004 > edition includes a Study Guide, a chapter on The New Enemy and contains > more than 400 posters and political cartoons (32 pages in color) that > illustrate how enemies are dehumanized so they may be destroyed without > remorse by portraying them as barbarians, terrorists, sadists, > aggressors and enemies of God, > > Of this book Joseph Campbell said "It is an essential document of our time" > > Through the generosity of the Welles Family Foundation, we are able to > send this edition of Faces of the Enemy, with the Study Guide free of > charge to a select group of teachers and educators for possible use in > the classroom It is our conviction that nothing is more urgent in our > time than pondering the ways in which enmity and warfare are perpetuated > and how we may wage peace more effectively. We welcome your help in > encouraging widespread study of these issues. > > The new edition of Faces of the Enemy with the Study Guide provides the > basis for a curriculum on propaganda and warfare for high schools, > colleges, churches, and other groups. It is recommended that, in > addition to the book and Study Guide, you use the original PBS > documentary "Faces of the Enemy" (available on DVD with added comments > by the author and director) and Three illustrated Lectures by Dr. > Keen---The Art of Enemy Making, The New Enemy, Beyond Enmity--- > (available on DVD) All of these may be ordered from www.samkeen.com > > "The powerful visuals in Faces of the Enemy draw students in and Sam > Keen's insights soon have them examining their world through new eyes. > The beauty of Faces is that it challenges students without threatening > them. Their initial reaction is generally, "Let's analyze our own images > and prejudices." The accompanying Study Guide provides engaging > techniques for doing just this. Faces..allows students to understand the > lines that divide school cafeterias as well as those the divide nations. > Use this resource!" Bill Bornschein, teacher at Saint Xavier High School > in Louisville, Ky > > If you would be interested in having the new edition of Faces of the > Enemy for possible use in your teaching please email me at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Jean-Marc Perreault wrote: > > > Hi Tipsters, > > I'm trying to find the person who sent me the book, > > Faces of the Enemy. I lost some emails, including the one where I > > discussed getting a complimentary copy of the book. I received it, and > > want to thank the sender, as well as ask a question. > > > > So, if you know who was offering free copies of this book, please let > > me know. > > > > Cheers! > > > > Jean-Marc > > > > > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > -- > Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. > President-Elect, Peace Psychology Division 48, APA > Secretary, Society for the Teaching of Psychology (Div. 2, APA) > Professor of Psychology > Coordinator - Holocaust & Genocide Studies, > Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights > Webster University > 470 East Lockwood > St. Louis, MO 63119 > > Main Webpage: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/ > [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
