Genocide

Why don’t bystanders act? It may be because of fear of authorities and fear of being killed themselves. But many people “stand by” watching (or hiding their eyes) even when they are not personally in danger. They may not involve themselves because the “us-them” propaganda has been successful, and so they do not identify with the victims or recognize their humanity. (The closer or more related a bystander feels to a victim, the more likely he or she is to act to help.) Maybe the bystanders see victims the way the perpetrators want them to see them — as animals or criminals. At times of crisis, bystanders may believe that getting rid of this group of people will solve the country’s or their own personal problems. In many situations, bystanders have something to gain from the victims’ deaths, such as land, money, jobs or consumer goods. And of course, sometimes they just have no idea what they could do to protest or intervene.