Would we be as quick to de-humanise/torture/abuse, our fellow human being in general (supposed enemy combatants, or not), if we felt them to be our brothers and sisters.

One would hope not.

Unfortunately, people's minds can culturally influenced, "trained" via "logical reasoning" (however faulty or biased that "reasoning" may be) to override the heart's natural compassionate and empathic responses, at least temporarily. Military training is one obvious example of this, political propoganda to justify war is another.

Even the most compassionate people with the sincerest intention and desire to help others can be deluded by psychological manipulation, via regular "doses" of propoganda.

daylia