War does not normalize contempt

Several historical accounts place thefts and profanations in the middle of lootings, wars, or persecutions. Amid the disorder, some people treated what is sacred and the defeated as though there were no longer any limits. Collective crises foster a dangerous excuse: "everyone does it," "they are the enemy," "anything goes now." When the face of the other person disappears, violence finds permission to expand and drags along even those who believed themselves incapable of it. Preserving our humanity in conflict requires prior boundaries. Refusing to humiliate, refusing to destroy out of hatred, and not celebrating an opponent's degradation remain duties when rage dominates all around.