This barbaric period (7) | tone

Could it be that the propensity to fight is the passion of the human essence itself? And, therefore, is war conflict an expression of innate impulses and emotions such as aggression, selfishness, competition, ambition, and greed? Armed conflict, then, would be a solidification and reflection of human nature.

Or maybe not?; That wars are the result of historical, social and political circumstances that occur when human beings are not given the skills to resolve conflicts through dialogue, cooperation and empathy?

Maybe it’s one or the other.

It is revealing that feelings and attitudes that are antigenic to the virus that causes war, such as love, compassion, brotherhood, and empathy for peaceful coexistence among individuals and nations, can be fostered, promoted, and To work requires a great effort. preach and help them; And see what is achieved, … if achieved! Engines of War, no. They light up on their own.

art spiegelmanHe is a famous American writer, painter and cartoonist who was born in 1948 in Stockholm (Sweden). He published two volumes of his masterpiece in 1986 and 1991 respectively. “mose”,The graphic novel that brought him worldwide fame and several awards including the Pulitzer.

The influence of his father, a Polish-Jewish Holocaust survivor, has an indelible mark on his creation (“Maus”), in which he deeply explores the tragic human drama of war: a misfortune that, through his use of Judging by the image, it comes from human nature itself.

Man is given to war like a duck takes to water. He goes into battle mode for any “grab this straw from me” and shows the worst version of himself. rivals, generalizes violence, ´inguenea´, creates chaos, hate. He thinks of death, and is bound to be killed. destroy and kill

The painter and cartoonist described it in his exquisite style as follows: “War is like a disease. It penetrates your skin, spreads through your body and changes you. It turns you into someone you are not. It teaches you to hate and kill, Accepting death as something natural, living in a world where violence and suffering is a constant.

Spiegelman is convincing, candid in his conception of man’s capacity for cruelty and degradation in the midst of war; Be it in the role of an inspirational and charismatic leader, be it as a civil servant or manager or commander or be on the battlefield. By making an analogy in which he portrays Nazis as cats and Jews as rats, he best embodies dehumanization and human cruelty. Declining to the point where people see each other as mere objects to be used, ignoring their own humanity and creating an endless cycle of violence.

“Maus” is a composition of the development of human life in the midst of war. Life in war is intense struggle. It’s yearning, it’s quivering, it’s agony, pure constant struggle to survive. A constant battle against dangers, pulling out from under the rocks the courage, tenacity and other values ​​needed to save your skin in the face of extreme adversity.

But in war there is good as well as bad. “It can show you the best of humanity and also the worst. It can teach you to love your fellow fighters, to sacrifice for them, to find hope and joy in the midst of chaos and destruction. War is a monster, an aberration but it is also a part of human history, a part of ourselves that we can neither ignore nor deny. War takes lives and destroys dreams, but also forges indestructible bonds and the strength and resilience of the human spirit is explored.

Message. First, raise awareness of the human tendency to wage war, In “Maus”, Spiegelman urges us to consider man’s natural instinct to wage war and to assume responsibility for keeping alive historical memory, such a valuable elixir in these barbaric times, strange times!; Whereas it would not be appropriate to turn away from the signs of the day. As if nothing had happened.

Second, lasting effect, The results of the war end with a simple protocol declaring a cease-fire or signing a peace treaty, which is already a lot! The human drama doesn’t end there. Spiegelman knows it, feels it, and resents it in his family history. You know the emotional challenges that come with seeking dangerous situations and death. How the scars of war are transmitted through generations, affecting relationships and leaving a deep mark on individual and collective identity.

Third, remember and learn from the living lessons of history, With his unique storytelling and visual style (the characters are anthropomorphic animals: Jews depicted as rats; Nazis depicted as cats), Spiegelman explores evil, cruelty, and human fallibility in wartime. Give lectures. about the fight for survival, about the legacy left behind in later generations, and about the importance of remembering and learning the lessons of history; The kind that distills those that already go on to prevent stumbling along with the equally heart-wrenching horrors of wars lived.

“Maus” is a powerful testament to the human condition, and a reminder of the horrors and lessons learned. It serves the purpose of provoking and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the human rights and dignity of all people. I hope so!