The Madness of Humanity
“He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself.”
The world seems to have gone utterly mad. Perhaps it has always been this way, and I was simply too insulated by privilege to notice. For years, I measured the world against my own understanding of decency, assuming that others shared a similar view of humanity. I believed that, despite our differences, we were all fundamentally the same—people, no more, no less. I thought our differences were insignificant compared to what we have in common. I even believed that these differences could enrich us, help us grow, and push us forward. I saw the diversity of humanity as an opportunity to learn from one another, to teach and to be taught. Yet here we are, retreating behind closed doors, inventing stories about one another without ever engaging in conversation. We elevate the achievements of the past as if they are more important than what we could build together for the future.
It is for this reason that I view racial supremacy as one of the greatest existential threat to humanity. Climate change, though undoubtedly dire, is a problem the earth can adapt to, even if we suffer in the process. But racial supremacy could be the final nail in our coffin. It will not be a comet, a virus, or some divine force that destroys us—it will be ourselves. We are our own worst enemy.
As the simian Dr. Zaius remarked in The Planet of the Apes: “I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand in hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself.” We have become so accustomed to death and violence that we no longer see our victims as one of us. We have become hardened, cynical, and devoid of empathy. The warning from Dr. Zaius serves as a grim reflection of our reality—a society where the pursuit of dominance and control has eroded the moral fabric that once held us together. If we continue down this path, the line between man and beast blurs, and we risk becoming the very monsters we fear.
This brings us to the grim reality of dehumanization—a process that unfolds gradually, stripping away the humanity of those we decide are "other." According to Psychologists, there are five stages of dehumanization, and they are all too familiar in our current world.
1. Othering
The process begins with "othering." We categorize people as different from ourselves—they do not look like us, talk like us, or share our beliefs. This mental divide makes it easier to justify viewing them as less than ourselves.
2. Prejudice
Next, we attribute negative characteristics to these "others." Prejudice takes root, fueled by stereotypes and generalizations that paint these people as inferior, dangerous, or unworthy. This stage lays the groundwork for deeper hatred. For example, Muslims and Arabs are often portrayed in the media and public discourse. They are frequently depicted as uncivilized, hailing from backward countries. Worse, they are often reduced to harmful stereotypes—as rapists, terrorists, or invaders unwilling to integrate into Western society. These depictions reinforce prejudices, making it easier for the majority to see Muslims and Arabs as "other" and justify discriminatory treatment. Making it that much easier to make caricatures of them.
3. Discrimination
Prejudice then evolves into discrimination. The "others" are systematically denied rights, opportunities, and resources. This bias becomes institutionalized, embedded in laws, policies, and social norms, leaving visible scars on society. A good example of this is the recent ban on hijabs in international and European contexts. The decision of France to prohibit hijabs at the Olympics is not merely an attack on a piece of clothing; it is an assault on the identity and rights of millions of women worldwide. Similarly, some European countries have enacted laws to prevent women from wearing hijabs in public spaces. These policies are often framed as efforts to uphold "secularism" or "women's liberation," but they are, in reality, tools of exclusion and marginalization. These actions send a clear message: those who do not conform to the narrow definition of what is acceptable do not belong. Even if you won a gold Olympic medal as a Muslim and African woman for a European country, they would try to diminish that achievement by frowning at her hijab she wears with pride. I’m talking about Sifan Hassan of course, Dutch, Ethiopian, former refugee, African and a woman. But above all else, a champion.
4. Violence
At this stage, violence against the "other" becomes justified, even necessary, in the eyes of the oppressors. This includes physical harm, intimidation, and destruction—whatever is deemed necessary to keep the "other" in their place. Just look at what’s been happening recently in the UK. The country has seen a wave of racist, anti-immigrant, and Islamophobic attacks, and far-right figures like Tommy Robinson, Nigel Farage, and even Andrew Tate have stoked the flames. These aren’t just isolated incidents—they’re part of a broader pattern of violence that’s been instigated by these figures who seem all too eager to fan the flames of division. Elon Musk has jumped on the bandwagon, using his billion-dollar platform Twitter/X to stir up fear and hatred, turning citizens against each other. It’s a sickening display of how quickly violence can escalate when the "other" is no longer seen as human but as a threat that must be neutralized. This isn’t just happening in some far-off place—it’s right on our doorstep.
5. Extermination
The final stage is extermination, where the "other" is no longer seen as human at all. Genocide, ethnic cleansing, and other mass atrocities become thinkable, then inevitable. The ultimate consequence of dehumanization is the complete annihilation of those deemed unworthy of life.
The horrors of this stage are not confined to history books. They are happening now. Think off the systemic rape cases in Israeli prisons, where Palestinian men are subjected to unimaginable violence as a tool of control and degradation. This is not an abstract evil—this is a present reality, born from viewing others as less than human. Then there is the ongoing mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a tragedy that has become so routine that it barely registers in the global conscience anymore. The relentless bombings, the children buried under rubble, the lives extinguished in an instant. They represent the final stage of dehumanization. When an entire population is seen as nothing more than a threat, their extermination becomes an acceptable, even inevitable, outcome.
Reversing this process requires a profound shift in how we see and treat those who are slightly different from us. The world may be mad, but it is a madness of our own making. It will only stop when we can see one another as equal. Yes, there are differences. Yes, there are moments we won’t get along. Yes, there are challenges that may test our patience and understanding. But it is in these differences that the richness of our collective humanity is found. When we embrace the idea that every person has intrinsic value, regardless of their background, beliefs, or behaviors, we take the first step towards healing the divisions that plague our world. On that note, cheers to our collective humanity.
