Throughout modern history, the same pattern repeats itself. Large-scale cruelty is rarely powered by millions of villains, but it is often enabled by silence of the majority.
In modern history, when governments or powerful interest groups intentionally create or incite oppression and atrocities, a similar human pattern appears again and again. A very small group, usually less than five percent, become the perpetrators. These are the people who plan, authorize, or directly carry out the harm. Some believe the ideology they promote. Others want power, status, or protection for themselves. And some are motivated less by belief and more by the opportunity to act on their worst impulses when they believe no one will stop them.
The largest group are the bystanders, often around two-thirds of the population. These are ordinary people who see what is happening and do not step in. Most are not cruel. Many are frightened, uncertain about the facts, worried about their families, or convinced that one person cannot make a difference. Silence often grows from fear, confusion, or social pressure rather than agreement. Some comply because they fear punishment if they refuse, but many simply find safety in just going along.
Next are the upstanders, roughly ten to twenty percent. These are the people who speak up in conversations, question what they are being told, write, teach their children differently, or quietly refuse to cooperate. They may not take dramatic risks, but they do not stay silent. Their motivation usually comes from conscience and a belief that everyday choices, no matter how small, still matter.
Then come the protestors, usually five to ten percent, who take resistance into public view. They sign petitions, march, organize meetings, or join collective efforts. They believe that numbers and visibility can shift the direction of events, even though they understand there may be consequences to their actions.
Finally, there are the rescuers, often fewer than three percent. These are the people who step in to protect someone, hide them, warn them, or help them escape. They act even when it is dangerous. Their motivation is typically deep empathy, strong personal morals, or a direct personal connection to the person at risk. They are rare, but their actions can save lives.
These percentages are not exact measurements, but they show a repeating lesson. Large-scale harm is rarely carried out by huge numbers of villains. It is often driven by a small, organized minority, allowed to continue by widespread silence, and interrupted by smaller groups who choose to speak or act despite the risk.
A Point to Ponder
In terms of American slavery, how many of African descent think or say, “If I had been there, I would have fought back,” or, “I would have run away, and then come back to save others, like Harriet Tubman.” I would wager a large percentage of people of African descent would imagine themselves in this role, and yet, what percentage actually did this? Less than 3 percent.
And how many of non-African descent would have seen themselves as rescuers, like conductors and those who operated safehouses in the Underground Railroad, who helped escaped slaves to freedom and to avoid recapture? Many of us would see ourselves in that role, and yet, what percentage actually would have been rescuers? Again, less than 3 percent.
And yet, no matter what we imagine, the truth is, most of us would have been bystanders. That is a point we all need to ponder.
Patterns Repeat Themselves
This list is not meant be exhaustive, but is a sampling of the most well-known examples that follow the typical pattern discussed.
- The Holocaust (1933–1945, Europe)
Small groups organized and carried out persecution, large civilian populations remained passive or fearful, resistance movements formed, and a very small number of rescuers hid or protected targeted families. - Armenian Genocide (1915–1917, Ottoman Empire)
State-directed perpetrators, widespread public silence or compliance, scattered protest or refusal, and rare individuals who sheltered Armenians at great personal risk. - Rwandan Genocide (1994, Rwanda)
Organized militias and officials led violence, many citizens did not intervene out of fear, some resisted or warned neighbors, and a small number hid or escorted victims to safety. - Cambodian Khmer Rouge Regime (1975–1979, Cambodia)
Centralized perpetrators enforced brutal policies, most civilians focused on survival and remained silent, limited internal resistance occurred, and rare acts of protection or concealment took place. - Bosnian War and Ethnic Cleansing (1992–1995, Balkans)
Armed factions committed atrocities, many civilians were immobilized by fear or uncertainty, protests and peace efforts emerged, and isolated individuals protected neighbors despite risk. - Apartheid Era (1948–1994, South Africa)
Government and enforcement bodies upheld oppressive laws, large segments of the public complied or stayed quiet, organized protest movements grew over time, and smaller numbers offered direct protection or aid. - Military Dictatorships in Latin America (1960s–1980s, multiple countries)
Security forces and officials carried out repression, many citizens avoided involvement to protect families, civic protest and advocacy groups formed, and a small number sheltered dissidents. - Genocide and Forced Removal of Native American Peoples (1600s–1800s, North America)
Government and settler perpetrators enacted displacement, violence, and forced assimilation policies; many settlers and citizens remained silent or benefited indirectly; some protested or refused participation; and a small number of individuals and religious groups hid, fed, or advocated for Native families. - Slavery in the United States (1600s–1865)
Slaveholders and legal systems enforced enslavement, large portions of the population accepted or ignored it, abolitionist movements protested and organized resistance, and a small number of people actively sheltered and helped enslaved individuals escape despite severe legal penalties.
Across different centuries and continents, the details change, but the social roles often look similar. A small, organized group drives the harm, a large portion stays silent out of fear, benefit, or uncertainty, smaller groups speak or protest, and a very small number take direct personal risks to protect others.
Still Within Our Grasp: The Promise of a Nation – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life
“Life Unworthy of Living” Response – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life