If the pious internationalist claim that “all people just want the same thing” is misleading, Peters’ position is far, far worse in that he seems unable to imagine that other people could hold views that are radically alien to his own without falling into the habit of describing them as members of another species.

Fortunately Peters is here to remind us that we are not really dehumanizing our enemies with propaganda and unjust treatment, since they are not really human in the first place.

Metropolitan Jonah said

How many Afghan, Iraqi, Palestinian and American youths will we sacrifice to agonizing injuries and deaths for the sake of our political will? They are called “soldiers,” or “enemy combatants” or “civilian casualties” or any variety of other euphemisms to deny their personhood. But ask their parents or children! Pro-war is NOT pro-life! God weeps for our callousness.