Looking back to 2017, Standing Up

Looking back to October of 2017: During a protest held in both Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, TN, those against anyone of color or foreign background showed up in fairly large numbers. I should add, they showed up in Shelbyville, but failed to show up in Murfreesboro after learning the police presence was larger than expected.

Outside of the local square in Murfreesboro, TN some were armed with loudspeakers and were preaching their version of truth. The two women standing in front of the man on the speaker disagreed with what he had to say and they were not timid about standing up against him.

“Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.”

— Maya Angelou

Shelbyville, Tennessee on October 28, 2017

My pictures and the environments I deliberately place myself in are often not my views on life. The setting is many times an uncomfortable place.

Shelbyville, Tennessee on 10/28/17: Do young men like these that include in one photo of a person who appears to be a boy standing like Hitler and wearing a fake mustache - understand the Holocaust? I would venture to guess no. I would go as far as stating that most have no idea what really occurred in Germany and because of that I look at them with sadness as do many others as opposed to anger.

This type of action would be like mocking the attacks on innocent children at Columbine High School where an April 20, 1999 school massacre left 15 dead and 24 injured along with countless others to face mental illness for the remainder of their lives. Of course, the mocking seen in these photos that are filled with hate, are much more devastating because of what they represent.

In these photos I see smiles as hate is yelled.

Holocaust Facts:

• Over 1.1 million children died during the Holocaust.
• The most intensive Holocaust killing took place in September 1941 at the Babi Yar Ravine just outside of Kiev, Ukraine, where more than 33,000 Jews were killed in just two days. Jews were forced to undress and walk to the ravine’s edge. When German troops shot them, they fell into the abyss. The Nazis then pushed the wall of the ravine over, burying the dead and the living.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust. 
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex.
• The soldiers who patrolled and operated concentration camps were known as Totenkopfverbande, or “Death’s Head” detachments. They wore skull-and-crossbones insignias on their uniforms to reflect their namesake.
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• During the Holocaust, the Nazis looted everything they could from their victims, including wedding rings, watches, precious stones, and eyeglasses.
• Children of African-German origin and the mentally or physically handicapped were surgically sterilized, often brutally.
• Thousands of infants and babies were killed by Nazis before their births could be recorded.

Almost a fight

At a rally, ordinary people may do unordinary bad things. While that may sound grim, it is quite true.

Take for example, this man with the beard. He was preaching and on a roll. Word after word about how this is bad verses this is good.

Regardless of what “This” maybe about, ordinary people around him started to criticize his words. The criticism grew louder and louder as some criticism turned into challenges of fighting.

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One young man stepped before him and invited him to throw the first punch with a slew of words that most would not want our children to hear. As the challenge grew, others in the crowd encouraged the punching as if that was all of a sudden okay to do in society.

Another man stood directly in front of him as well - expecting a fight to take place. However, no fight occurred as the older man had no intention to strike, only to speak and be heard.

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If you simply slowed your anger and listened to the words of the older man, you recognized that he spoke out of a troubled past and just wanted to be heard. He talked about living on the streets while being homeless in Nashville. He talked about murderers and how some in the crowd know of dark secrets, but have yet to admit to them. It was obvious to some that he spoke out of sadness in his past and instead of accepting his words, others felt attacked by them although they were not directed at any one person.

Actions of one following the crowd happen quickly and turn into group violence’s and rioting. That of course explains the psychology behind the show of a strong police presence at such an event. Regardless of the cost to produce such force, it is sometimes necessary to deescalate a situation before it has the water to grow.

During rallies like the one held in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville on October 28, 2017, you could easily witness ordinary everyday people break out of their norm and say things they normally would not say. They may not realize it or admit it, but those in attendance had the potential to do great harm while following the masses in large groups.

Following the masses in social psychology is called Deindividuation. It is the loss of identity or self-awareness, usually in a group setting. People lose self-awareness and feel less responsibility of ones’ actions. An example would be a riot where all present mindlessly follow along. This can easily trap good people and convince them to follow along in beatings, vandalism, stealing and even murdering.

A similar word used in psychology is emotional contagion. Emotional contagion is the tendency to feel and express emotions similar to and influenced by those of others; also, the phenomenon of one person’s negative thoughts or anxiety affecting another’s mood.

Actions, challenges, sarcastic replies or strong words by someone who may normally be viewed as wise will make them look like a fool in protest settings. Especially when challenging someone to a duel whereas that same person would never do such in a typical setting.

"It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own." - Cicero, Roman politician, lawyer, orator, and writer. (106 BC - 43 BC)

The Star of David

What is often referred to as the Star of David is traditionally a Jewish symbol, but is also called or used as the Seal of Solomon, usually when it is encircled by a thin line in Islam. It is also called the Shield of David.

The star had grave meaning during the Holocaust as the Nazis used it to identify Jews, which is one reason it is often seen by those with opposing views at rallies that include White Supremacist, as captured in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 28, 2017.

It has been said to represent the shape of King David's shield, which stood for protection and force when needed. It is also a symbol thought to bring good luck by some of those in the Middle East.

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank