Diane Knutti writes from Bern:

Dear people, first of all I want to thank you for your work and engagement.

I read the interview with great interest.

Thank you for pulling the problems in Africa to our attention.

Although you all know much more about humiliation than I do, perhaps because I stand outside of all, I 'd like to point out something that appeared to me that might explain something to you.

Lindner mentions the difference in the reaction of people who have been humiliated in the level of aggressiveness in their response. She says she is surprised.

That’s what encourages me to tell you/her my explanation of it: I experience a much higher level of anger when injustice hits someone else then myself. Someone who is directly involved in the action of humiliation is still is in a relation to the aggressor, I have “ein Gegenüber,” “ein Du.” Somehow because there is a connection (it seems not to matter whether positive nor negative) that’s why the person reacts less aggressive although personally hit. BECAUSE the person is in the situation and hopes by passive behavior to make the aggressor to be kinder. Also because this person may even have an understanding for the aggressors … because she faces them.

Someone from outside can criticize much better than someone personally touched. If I observe humiliation against people that are my neighbors, or so, my behavior is going to be much more aggressive because I'm not within the situation, not bound through a relationship of any kind.

I'm sure this is not only the case with Palestinians. The students you referred to in the interview know the theories/mechanisms of injustice. They want to change the situation. Because not personally oppressed, they have much more energy and less fear as to what will be the outcome of their angry behavior. It lies in the nature of the situation that those are more aggressive than the other.

I hope you could understand the meaning, the content of my message, and I appologize for my spelling mistakes and bad English. -- Diane Knutti