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> Arnie says he feels safe for the moment because it's the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Once it ends, he's afraid his uncle will hunt him down and kill him. I

> Arnie says he feels safe for the moment because it's the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Once it ends, he's afraid his uncle will hunt him down and kill him. I want to understand. I really do. What compels someone to attack another person because their beliefs fail to align with yours? Like, how in the world does your nephew's sexuality relate to you? Not one damn bit. It's the year 2017. We've made major leaps in technologies (e.g. Snapchat—I kid) but sometimes I feel humanity still has a lot of catching up to do.

fra 9y ago
I recommend reading "Debt: The first 5,000 years" by David Graeber. It made the idea of honor as a social currency click for me. In a community where your good name is your main asset, honor killings are rational (not making any excuses for it of course).
judah 9y ago
>> "What compels someone to attack another person because their beliefs" Anything that motivates humans: patriotism, romance, religion, politics, etc. In this particular case, it's easy to see why this man's uncle would attack his nephew. The uncle adheres to the Islamic faith, which forbids homosexuality. Breaking the law carries a punishment; this would be motive for a person who takes Islamic law seriously. >> "how in the world does your nephew's sexuality relate to you? Not one damn bit." In an honor-and-shame culture, a person's sexuality absolutely relates to family's name and reputation. A family member practicing a forbidden form of sexuality brings shame onto family. This occurs here in the West, too, albeit on a lesser level: imagine if your nephew was arrested for a forbidden form of sexuality, like pedophilia or beastiality or child pornography. You wouldn't go around advertising that to your friends and family; it'd be shameful. Amplify that shame in honor-and-shame cultures, and you have motive.

fra 9y ago

I recommend reading "Debt: The first 5,000 years" by David Graeber. It made the idea of honor as a social currency click for me. In a community where your good name is your main asset, honor killings are rational (not making any excuses for it of course).

judah 9y ago

>> "What compels someone to attack another person because their beliefs" Anything that motivates humans: patriotism, romance, religion, politics, etc. In this particular case, it's easy to see why this man's uncle would attack his nephew. The uncle adheres to the Islamic faith, which forbids homosexuality. Breaking the law carries a punishment; this would be motive for a person who takes Islamic law seriously. >> "how in the world does your nephew's sexuality relate to you? Not one damn bit." In an honor-and-shame culture, a person's sexuality absolutely relates to family's name and reputation. A family member practicing a forbidden form of sexuality brings shame onto family. This occurs here in the West, too, albeit on a lesser level: imagine if your nephew was arrested for a forbidden form of sexuality, like pedophilia or beastiality or child pornography. You wouldn't go around advertising that to your friends and family; it'd be shameful. Amplify that shame in honor-and-shame cultures, and you have motive.