Chinese prisoners being buried alive by their Japanese captors outside the city of Nanjing, during the infamous Rape of Nanjing, 1937.

[u/TheMrMorbid]

[u/Porchmuse]

One of the most horrifying aspects of pictures like this to me is the casual nature of the crowd in the background. Sort of like soldiers who have to hear the commander’s safety briefing before they’re released for the three day weekend.

It’s like they’re thinking, “come on, you’re cutting into happy hour…”

We can be so terrible to each other for no good reason.

[u/Nathaniel_higgers_ → u/Porchmuse]

They were brainwashed by their government to see them as less than human. Super racism

[u/indefilade → u/Nathaniel_higgers_]

It’s not brainwashing, it’s nationalism. Brainwashing implies effort. There was no effort needed to get the Japanese military to do this. Same for the Nazi army.

[u/meanpride → u/indefilade]

What? Nationalism just means devotion to their country. Do people who support their National football team also massacre the opposition?

[u/meanpride → u/[deleted]]

Being a dick to who? Don't get trigerred so quickly. Also no, you can love your country but at the same time, not be murderous.