Cats teach their kittens to catch mice and play with them; militarists do likewise with the human young. The cat loves the kitten, but not the mouse; the militarist may love his own son, but not the sons of his country's enemies.
Source: On Education, especially in early childhood, 1926, by Bertrand Russell
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/OE02-100.HTM
* a brief comment:
People who hold some form of power or authority often have children of their own (including, here, those born out of extramarital relationships). Naturally, because their own children are dear to them, few people feel any sense of injustice when those children receive better treatment than others.
However, when politicians, capitalists, or religious leaders in public positions are found to be unfairly favoring certain groups or individuals, they are met with strong criticism from society.
Human beings are prone to double standards in many areas of life. While they harshly criticize others for having double standards, they are often unaware of their own inconsistencies, and some even justify them as simply 'part of human nature."
How do you feel when you read today's words from Bertrand Russell:
"The militarist may love his own son, but not the sons of his country's enemies"?
Some might say, "Well, of course -- that's only natural." But let's think a bit more deeply. What if we replaced "enemy country" with "China" or "Japan"?
If not loving the sons of an enemy country is considered a natural emotion, then it follows that our country is an enemy country from the perspective of the other side. In that case, we must accept that it is also natural for them to see us as their enemy.
Of course, it's obviously better for countries not to regard each other as enemies. Yet in reality, not everyone agrees with this. Take, for example, supporters of the political party Sanseito, which promotes a "Japan First" ideology. Unfortunately, such attitudes are far from uncommon -- and deeply troubling.
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