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Racism, Demonization, and War
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Polly Mann, W A M M
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Racism and demonization have been part of every war the United States has ever waged.
During World War I, the Germans were vilified and stories were rife about the cruelty of the “krauts.” This resulted in a denigration of all things German throughout the country. For example, the little town of Schlesingerville, Wisconsin —the most German-speaking community in the U.S.A. at the time—was renamed “Mayville.” After World War I, a magazine in my dentist’s office contained an article accusing the German troops of unspeakable atrocities. It could be said that Germans, as a nationality, were demonized and individual German-Americans were harassed.
Fast forward to World War II when the Germans became, once again, enemies, while the Russians (whose revolution this country had opposed) became allies. The U.S. had another enemy, “the Japs,” and it was easier to vilify the Japanese than the Germans because of racial distinctions and racism. In my home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mr. Kamatsu owned and managed the Japanese Gift Shop for many years. (My sister and I bought beautiful paper parasols there each summer.) Mr. Kamatsu was forced to change the name of his business to the “Oriental Gift Shop.”
The Japanese who lived in California were forced into relocation camps where they lived for the duration of the war in Spartan surroundings. Their financial losses were tremendous. Most were American citizens who had not evidenced any allegiance to the Japanese government. At the time, I did not give this illegal action any thought at all. Today I recognize this as sheer racism. There was no similar action taken toward naturalized Germans.
Early during World War II, the military discovered that when faced with an enemy target only 12 to 25 percent of American soldiers were pulling their triggers. This produced drastic changes in the Army’s training methods (see Men against Fire by S.L.A. Marshall). The military realized that in order for soldiers to kill, the military needed to instill in them a hatred of the enemy. This was accomplished by demonizing the enemy. The process has been perfected so that the “kill ratio” of U.S. soldiers has improved with each war.
The media becomes—sometimes unknowingly—part of the demonization process as it regurgitates information from the government, for example, the media participates in demonizing the enemy by using Pentagon reports that emphasize the cruelty of the inhuman enemy “our soldiers” are facing. Slang used during wartime also reveals demonization and racism. During the Vietnam War the Vietnamese were “gooks” and “dinks.” In the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Muslims and Arabs have been called “towelheads” and “sand niggers.”
How are racism and demonization instilled? Books, conversation, newspapers. My growing-up years were filled with “picture show” images of sneaky Arabs, savage Indians, and simple-minded African Americans. The good cowboy killed the evil enemy and peace was achieved.
The shameful treatment of African Americans and Native Americans, both by the U.S. military and within the U.S. military, could not have been accomplished without a systematic attempt to regard them as something less than human. Likewise, women of color from around the globe would not have been prostituted for or by the U.S. military if not for racism and the demonization of enemies. Indeed, racism and demonization affect civilian populations greatly. During the Cold War, all Communists were deemed to be evil, regardless of whether they were Russian, Chinese, American, or any other nationality.
Under the shadow of war, people lose sight of the fact that all humans have intrinsic value. The Quakers teach that there is something of God in each person. This alone makes it necessary to respond with respect to each individual. I do not know how soldiers could be induced to kill if the enemy were not portrayed as inhuman and cruel, so it appears to me that if racism and demonization are eliminated, war will cease. |
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© 2003 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete September 2003 Index - click here
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