Whataboutism is ugly. If you see a war crime and your reaction is, "what about...", take a pause, think about what you are asking and why. Here are some pointers. 👇
Ask yourself:
❓Am I contributing information?
❓Am I reacting with fear or anger?
❓What message am I trying to convey?
❓ Am I justifying a terrible act?
Take a mental break and don't let yourself lose your humanity.
To not fall victim to whataboutism try this:
☑️Acknowledge: Acknowledge the atrocity happened or is happening.
☑️ Condemn and show empathy: show empathy and support to victims by condemning abuse, atrocity, or injustice.
☑️inform responsibly: if relevant insert extra information you'd like others to be aware of without diminishing others grief or traumatic event.
For example: "that is terrible and it is awful that it happened or is happening. I'd like to add that this awful thing is also happening or happened to [insert noun]."