When I was a naive young recruit in Spain, I used to wonder why soldiers bayoneted oil paintings, shot the noses off statues and defecated into grand pianos. I now understand: it was to teach civilians the deepest sort of respect for men in uniform - uncontrollable fear.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Soldiers destroyed art to teach civilians that military force commands absolute fear.
- In plain terms
- Destruction teaches fear of uniformed men.
- What can you take from it?
- Fear is taught through violence against culture.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why target culture?
- How is power enforced?
Another view
Some destruction is looting rather than instruction.
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