When the subjective goes tribal, the self indulgence of one man or woman comes frighteningly alive, collective, suddenly legitimized, glorious even. What would be individual shame now blossoms into shamelessness. Thus does self pity become selfless and, by this magic, righteous. And thus a brute killer portrays himself as a victim, who is therefore infinitely justified. Ethnic cleansing is merely injured virtue catching up.
Nothing is more empowering, as they say, than being a victim.
TIME April 12, 1993.