Ten Stages of Genocide

The purpose of this page is to respond to the "Ten Stages of Genocide" graphic. The implication of the graphic is that what we are witnessing in our current political environment* of dealing with those illegally in the U.S. is similar to what occured in 20th Century Nazi Germany. The concern is over how those who have entered the U.S. illegally are being perceived, and how they might be treated in the near future.

*2019 during Donald Trump's presidency

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Response to the Ten Stages Of Genocide

1. Classification: People are divided into "us and them."
   
   
   • In the political world (and every other "world" I can think of), we have always divided ourselves into "us" and "them". Democrats/Republicans, Left/Right, Conservative/Liberal, etc. Just because we choose to identify with a particular mind-set does not mean we intend to take pitchforks to those who are not like-minded (although, there are times ...)
   
   
2. Symbolization: People are forced to identify themselves.
   
   
   • I am frequently forced to identify myself. Here are just a few examples:
     
     
     • cash a check (or open a bank account, take out a loan)
     • check into a hotel
     • rent a car
     • get on an airplane
     • when I have gotten pulled over for speeding
       I've never accused a police officer for being the SS for asking for my ID and registration ("Papers, please?") -- but I'm sure it's been done.
     • before being hired for every job I've had
     • buying a home
     • I was even asked to identify myself when picking up items at Walmart I ordered online.
     • You can't even enter my place of employment without being "forced to indentify [yourself]."
   
   
3. Discrimination: People begin to face systematic discrimination.
   
   
   • Those here illegally have not suddenly begun to face discrimination. They have faced discrimination since the day they arrived illegally. Employers and businesses, including government agencies, are required to follow laws and regulations regarding the showing of proper ID for hiring and other daily activities we take for granted. E.g., do we really want people being able to rent a van or cash a check if they don't have any ID? What could possibly go wrong there?
   
   
4. Dehuminzation: People equated with animals, vermin or diseases.
   
   
   • So, is the image of Trump being depicted as a pig 1st amendment protected, political speech -- or, as the Ten Stages of Genocide graphic suggests, a deliberate attempt to dehumanize him, and by extension his supporters, as a precursor to genocide? You decide.
     
   
   
5. Organization: The government creates specific groups (police/military) to enforce the policies.
   
   
   • Government at every level creates specific groups to enforce their laws and court rulings. Otherwise, their laws/rulings have no teeth and are meaningless. Creating and continuing these law enforcement agencies is necessary for a civil society and in no way represents a march toward genocide.
     
     
     • The U.S. government created the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to enforce the now over 400 federal statutes regarding immigration.
       • Those attempting to interfere with the lawful deportation of those here illegally are guilty of obstruction of justice.
       • Those who disagree with current immigration law should work to change the law, not demomize those who are sworn to uphold the laws our legislators have enacted.
       • Do we really want law enforcement to pick and choose which laws they enforce based on who likes them or not? Imagine the chaos that would create.
       
       
     • Likewise, the U.S. government created the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agency to enforce, among other things, federal gun laws. I wonder if those who have created Sanctuary Cities to provide safe harbor to those here illegally would have any problem if a state like Texas decided to thumb its nose at federal gun laws and created Sanctuary Cities for those who wish to illegally possess machine guns. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, right? -- or would it be a case of:
       "OK for us to obstruct justice -- NOT OK for you."
       
       
     • States have State Police to enforce state law.
       
       
     • Counties have Sheriff's Offices to enforce county law -- and so on.
     
     You get the point. These agencies all have one purpose: to enforce laws written by their respective legislative bodies. Too often, these law enforcement agencies (and their officers) are unfairly demonized by those who politically oppose the laws they are enforcing -- and to spell it out, there's a difference between enforcing immigration law and deporting or relocating legal citizens like we saw in Nazi Germany.
   
   
6. Polarization: The government broadcasts propaganda to turn the populace against the group.
   
   
   • Government is not the only one to broadcast propaganda in an attempt to turn the populace against groups of people. Try these on for size:
     
     
   
   
7. Preparation: Official action to remove/relocate people.
   
   
   • No one is suggesting that those here legally should be rounded up and forced to leave. For an article on deporting those here illegally, check out this link.
     
   
   
8. 9. 10. Persecution: Extermination: Denial: If there is ever an effort to start putting illegal immigrants into ovens, this right-leaning, conservative, Trump supporter will do what's necessary to help overthrow the government.