Snow and Water Nymphs:

Simone’s Notes:

The philosopher Martin Buber underlined the difference between the Freudian notion of guilt, based on internal conflicts, and existential guilt, based on actual harm done to others. Collective guilt, like guilt, is the unpleasant emotional reaction that results among a group of individuals when it is perceived that the group illegitimately harmed members of another group. It is often the result of “sharing a social identity with others whose actions represent a threat to the positivity of that identity”. Different intergroup inequalities can result in collective guilt, such as receiving unearned benefits and privileges or inflicting more extreme forms of harm on an out-group. Individuals are generally motivated to avoid collective guilt in order to maintain a positive social identity. There are many ways of decreasing collective guilt, such as denying harm or justifying actions. Collective guilt can also lead to positive outcomes, such as promoting intergroup reconciliation and reducing negative attitudes towards the out-group. There are several causes of collective guilt, salient group identity, collective responsibility, and perception of unjust in-group actions. In order for an individual to experience collective guilt, he must identify himself as a part of the in-group. “This produces a perceptual shift from thinking of oneself in terms of ‘I’ and ‘me’ to ‘us’ or ‘we’.” Only when an individual is salient with the in-group can they perceive responsibility for the harmful actions of the group, past and present. In addition to in-group salience, an individual will only feel collective guilt if they view the in-group as responsible for the harmful actions done to the out-group. “For instance, in two studies, racial inequality in the US was framed as either “Black Disadvantage” or “White Privilege”. When the term “black disadvantage” was used to describe racial inequality, white participants felt less collectively responsible for the harm done to the out-group, which lessened collective guilt. In comparison, when “white privilege” was used white participants felt more collectively responsible for the harm done, which increased collective guilt. Lastly, an individual has to believe the actions caused by the in-group were unjustifiable, indefensible and unforgivable. If an individual can justify the actions of the in-group this will lessen collective guilt. Only when an individual views the in-group actions as reprehensible will that individual feel collective guilt. Collective guilt is not only a result of feeling empathy for the out-group. It can also be caused by self-conscious emotion that stems from the questioning of the morality of the in-group. There are various methods of reducing collective guilt. Some of these methods are denying in-group’s harmful actions, denying responsibility, claiming actions by in-group were just, and focusing on positive aspects caused by the harmful action. First, by denying the in-group’s harmful actions, or downplaying the severity of the harm, the effect of collective guilt is lessened. If the individual or group can neglect to observe the harm caused by their actions, either consciously or unconsciously, then the individual will not feel collective guilt. If a person does not feel that the in-group is responsible for the harm caused by actions, collective guilt will be lessened. Additionally, if a person believes that only individuals are responsible for their own actions, and not a collective group, than they can deny the existence of collective responsibility, thereby reducing feelings of collective guilt. An individual can rationalize the actions of the in-group. If the individual believes that there were just reasons for the harm inflicted, collective guilt is likely to be reduced. For instance, out-group dehumanization is one effective means towards justifying the in-group’s actions. By focusing on the positive aspects of the in-group’s actions rather than the harmful effects, collective guilt can be reduced. For instance, an individual or group may choose to focus on the benefits of high levels of production and consumption, and not on its harmful effects on the environment.

It was snowing today. Simple sentence, right? Only, people in Amestris can’t remember the last time it snowed in February. It might have, but that was a long time again. However, they all had other things on their mind. Mustang didn’t like the negative vibe around the Central Headquarters. Everyone seemed so distracted. Miles away, to be clear. “Why is it so depressing here?” he thought. Malice’s poison hadn’t touched him yet because he’s been at the hospital with Ella and Alex. Speaking of which, he couldn’t come there today because of the paperwork. But, he did record a message for the lamb to help bring him back.

Right now, Mustang was catching up on the paperwork he had gotten behind on. Naturally, he didn’t enjoy it. “Much better than listening to one of the other soldiers complaining about how awful their past was,” he reasoned. Hawkeye-Riis was at the doctor’s office again for another check-up with the baby. She wasn’t going to be back in to work until this afternoon. Oh well, Mustang just had to make do with what he had on hand.

One file in particular kept drawing his attention back to it. The black color screamed at him to have a look at it. Maybe it was a top-secret file with some importance with the cases at hand. Wouldn’t hurt to take a short look. So, Mustang lowered his pen and took the file in his hands. “Pretty heavy file,” he thought. “It didn’t look like it.” The major general opened up the file. The first page alone was enough for him to take notice.

Addresses to the Major General:

Due to the growing severity of this case, we have asked for some special back-up. She will be arriving tomorrow morning. She will be observing at first, but if things get really ugly, she will step in to diffuse the situation. That is all.

As he read this, Mustang began to think. There had been something off going on lately. Maybe it had something to do with the depression in the whole city. Whatever it was, everyone needed to snap out of it as soon as possible. Alex needed to do the same with his coma. If the major general wasn’t careful, he could burn out from both ends Mustang sat back and sighed. “What the hell is wrong with everyone?” he thought. “This isn’t us.

XXIX:

Icy. Alex awoke, lying on his back on glass. The summer warmth just disappeared. His eyes trailed above him. Endless blank sky as far as the eye could see. He reached above him. Alex noticed that his arm felt sluggish as he did so. The lamb couldn’t hear a single sound. Suddenly, a spark above him caught his eye. Alex watched on intently.

Many other sparks followed behind that one. They seemed to be playing a game high above the sky. Like Follow the Leader or Tag. Each time they touched, the lights flashed across Alex’s face. He didn’t know how to piece together what was going on before him. “Strange…” he thought. What did this all mean? Another thought crossed Alex’s brain.

I’m not in any pain,” he thought. “Are they letting up on me at last?” No, he was still trapped in his mind. That’s when he remembered his mission. “I have to go home!” the lamb thought. Alex tried to push himself off of the glass. His body wouldn’t budge. “Come on!” he pleaded in his mind. “I have to get up! I have to get out of here!” The boy kept trying to at least sit up. His attempts were in vain, however. He felt as if he nails was screwed down to the cold glass under him.

“Damn it!” Alex shouted in frustration. “I’m sick of all of this! Let me out of here! I want to go home now!” Well, part of his wish unfortunately came true. Alex froze stiff as he felt his body being pulled downwards into the glass. His eyes widened in alarm. “Am I… sinking?” he thought. “Oh crap! I am sinking!” Alex tried to battle his way back up to the top.

“I’m sorry!” he cried over and over again. “I didn’t mean what I said. I won’t try to escape again! I promise! Please, don’t do this to me! I’ll be good! I promise! I promise!” The sinking didn’t stop. The glass swallowed the lamb up and let him drop into the darkness below.

XXX:

Shots. Alex jerked his eyes open and looked above. Water flooded above him. The lamb squinted, confused. “Am I underwater?” he thought. He reached out to see. His fingers touched cold wet. A shiver shot through his body. Alex’s brain broke down into panic. He began trashing around, trying to swim to the top for air. That’s when he noticed yet another thing off.

I can… breathe here?” he pondered. He took in slow breaths to see. It was true, Alex could breathe underwater. “But how?” the lamb thought. Then, something else above caught his ear. The lamb was hearing voices. Muzzled, but they were in fact voices. Alex strained his ears for a closer listen. Suddenly his eyes shot open wide.

That’s Ella!” he thought. Alex suddenly realized that he was just outside of his head. Maybe he could call out to Ella and get her to bring him back out.

“Hey!” he yelled. “Ella! I’m here! Help me! I’m here! I can hear you! I’m okay! Just get me out of here!” Alex then froze. “She can’t hear me…” he thought in despair. Was he doomed to be trapped in his mind forever? Alex lied there feeling kind of sad.

Suddenly, a gush of water explode under him. The lamb fought to stay calm. “What is it now?” he thought glumly. This force of water started to push him out further downwards. That snapped him right back into reality. Alex struggled to stay in place.

“No!” he shouted. “I want to stay here! Ella’s out there looking for me to come back! I have to stay here! Please stay! Please, I’m begging you! PLEASE!!!” His cries fell on deaf ears. Alex tried to stay in place until his body gave out. In the end, the rushing water carried him away into another place unknown.


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