I'm disturbed by many pictures and videos I see today of violent oppressors suppressing open dialogue and peaceful protest. One thing these aggressors often have in common is a uniform and a mask. They are anonymous in their adrenaline expressed action.

Police in Riot Gear

_{(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)}

Antifa

_{(Wikimedia Commons)}

The KKK

_{(Wikimedia Commons)}

They all cover their faces. They act like mindless robots with no identity, following orders of their authoritarian leaders or tribal, authoritarian ideology. What is it about their actions which require them to hide their faces? Could it be somewhere deep down, they know their fellow humans will shame and ostracize them for their actions?

When looking at a picture or a video of some faceless aggressor, I wonder, does that person have neighbors who know them? Where do they buy groceries and who serves them food at restaurants? Where are they employed or if they own their business, which vendors work with them? If their identities were known and tied to their actions, how would it impact their daily lives?

I understand identity is a double edged sword. Some fear the power of totalitarian governments and feel anonymity gives them a level of freedom to defend themselves. Maybe that's true; I don't personally know. I've not yet lived in a blatantly totalitarian state where I'd find that useful. It seems to me, the court of public opinion in our digitally connected world is slowly becoming more powerful long-term than what's happening on the ground day-to-day. In this reality, being known can be an asset and a form of protection. It just depends on how far you're trying to push the current status quo, which laws you're breaking based on your principles, etc.

It burdens my heart to see women crying and pleading with riot police in Catalonia today. From what little I understand of the situation, people are attempting to hold a peaceful referendum and they are being met with violent authoritarianism. They aren't pleading with another human. It's a faceless, anonymous automaton.

What worries me most, I guess, is how the future may literally include robotic enforcers of political will. I hope it doesn't come to that. While there are still humans involved, I think we should all speak up about the need to unmask the faceless. Give them identity and, in that process, responsibility for their actions. I'm not calling for people to be DOXed, but I also can't ignore the reality of aggressors versus victims. If someone is initiating violence against someone else, action against them is defensive and justified according to the NAP.

We have to find the balance.

Related posts:

• The Myth of Authority
• Tribalism: Our Shared Enemy
• Privacy, Identity, and Human Flourishing
• NVC: Violence Is a Tragic Expression of an Unmet Need