lairdwilcox | Defamation is the destruction or
attempted destruction of the reputation, status, character or standing
in the community of a person or group of persons by unfair, wrongful, or
malicious speech or publication. For the purposes of this essay, the
central element is defamation in retaliation for the real or imagined
attitudes, opinions or beliefs of the victim, with the intention of
silencing or neutralizing his or her influence, and/or making an example
of them so as to discourage similar independence and "insensitivity" or
non-observance of taboos. It is different in nature and degree from
simple criticism or disagreement in that it is aggressive, organized and
skillfully applied, often by an organization or representative of a
special interest group, and in that it consists of several
characteristic elements.
Ritual Defamation is not ritualistic because it follows
any prescribed religious or mystical doctrine, nor is it embraced in
any particular document or scripture. Rather, it is ritualistic because
it follows a predictable, stereotyped pattern which embraces a number
of elements, as in a ritual.
The elements of a Ritual Defamation are these:
- In a ritual defamation the victim must have violated a particular taboo in some way, usually by expressing or identifying with a forbidden attitude, opinion or belief. It is not necessary that he "do" anything about it or undertake any particular course of action, only that he engage in some form of communication or expression.
- The method of attack in a ritual defamation is to assail the character of the victim, and never to offer more than a perfunctory challenge to the particular attitudes, opinions or beliefs expressed or implied. Character assassination is its primary tool.
- An important rule in ritual defamation is to avoid engaging in any kind of debate over the truthfulness or reasonableness of what has been expressed, only condemn it. To debate opens the issue up for examination and discussion of its merits, and to consider the evidence that may support it, which is just what the ritual defamer is trying to avoid. The primary goal of a ritual defamation is censorship and repression.
- The victim is often somebody in the public eye - someone who is vulnerable to public opinion - although perhaps in a very modest way. It could be a schoolteacher, writer, businessman, minor official, or merely an outspoken citizen. Visibility enhances vulnerability to ritual defamation.
- An attempt, often successful, is made to involve others in the defamation. In the case of a public official, other public officials will be urged to denounce the offender. In the case of a student, other students will be called upon, and so on.
- In order for a ritual defamation to be effective, the victim must be dehumanized to the extent that he becomes identical with the offending attitude, opinion or belief, and in a manner which distorts it to the point where it appears at its most extreme. For example, a victim who is defamed as a "subversive" will be identified with the worst images of subversion, such as espionage, terrorism or treason. A victim defamed as a "pervert" will be identified with the worst images of perversion, including child molestation and rape. A victim defamed as a "racist" or "anti-Semitic" will be identified with the worst images of racism or anti-Semitism, such as lynchings or gas chambers.
