“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Martin
Luther King, Jr.
And, I believe it.
It’s what leaves me standing in bewilderment when people
hear or see cruelty, injustice, and wrong in the world and aren’t stirred to
action.
Last month I visited the Kigali Memorial Centre in Rwanda.
It not only presents a memorial for the atrocities committed during the Rwandan
Genocide, but for many others committed over the last century also.
Genocide is intentional. It’s never been an accident. And,
not every act of genocidal violence results in genocide itself (Stanton).
Scary. And, inexcusable.
Genocide (as defined by the United Nations Convention1948)
means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or
in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
- Killing members of the group
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
- Deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about its physical destruction
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
- Forcibly transferring children of this group to another group
While it is nearly impossible for me to explain the causes
of all of the genocides listed in the memorial or explain the impact the
knowledge learned had on me, I want to give you a little preview:
Rwandan Genocide 1994
In 100 days, more than 1,000,000 people were murdered.
“But the genocidaires did not kill a million people.
They killed one, then another, then another.
Day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute.
Every minute of the day, someone, somewhere, was being
murdered, screaming for mercy.
And receiving none
("Kigali Memorial Centre").”
"This chapter is a bitter part of our lives, but one we
must remember for those we lost and for the sake of the future."
The Hereros Genocide 1904-1905
(Namibia)
- Sixty-five thousand (65,000) Herero people were killed, equaling 80 percent of the population.
- Ten thousand (10,000) Nama were murdered, which was 50 percent of the Nama population.
- Today only approximately eight percent of Namibia’s population are Herero (Smith).
“He [the colonist] introduces laws… which are entirely
impossible, untenable, unbelievable, unbearable, unmerciful and unfeeling. He
punishes our people… and has already beaten people to death for debt. He thinks
we are stupid and unintelligent people, but we have never yet punished people
in the cruel and improper way that he does,”
Nama chief, Hendrik Witbooi, in a letter to Major Leutwin
informing him that the local people would no longer tolerate the behavior of
the invading German forces and settlers.
Armenia
1915-1918
- In 1914 there were 2,000,000 Armenians in the Ottoman Empire; however, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, which was 75 percent of the Armenian population.
- Eighty thousand (80,000) Armenians were burnt to death in stables and haylofts.
- Fifty thousand (50,000) Armenians were drowned in the river Euphrates and its tributaries.
- Eight-hundred thousand (800,000) were killed in the course of deportations.
- An unknown number of soldiers and officers were murdered by fellow military.
- Many missing orphans, young girls and women were forcibly converted to Islam.
- Women were pressed into sexual slavery.
The majority of Turks were ignorant of the genocide as it
was happening, and still are (Smith).
“I don’t know why the Turks can’t admit it, express sorrow
and go on…
You do all these things to the victim and then you say it
never happened.
That is killing them twice.”
Thomas Bergenthal, Holocaust survivor
The Holocaust
1939-1945
- Six million (6,000,000) Jews were murdered, including 1.5 million children.
- Ten million (10,000,000) people were forced into slave labor.
Cambodia
1975-1979
- Approximately 1.7 million people lost their lives (21% of the country's population).
The Balkans
1990s
- An estimated minimum of 200,000 Bosnian Muslims, 10,000 Kosovar Albanians and thousands of Croatians were murdered.
- Two million two hundred thousand (2,200,000) people were displaced from their homes by the end of the Bosnian crisis in 1995.
It's still happening, and continues to threaten countries
all over the world. It's because of ignorance and neutrality that these
atrocities continue to occur today. Have the courage to make a difference where
you can.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about
things that matter.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Love must me sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what
is good.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above
yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer.
Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice
hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who
mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of
low position. Do not think you are superior.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is
right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far is it depends on you, live at
peace with everyone..."
Romans 12:9-18
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
Sources:
"Genocide." Kigali Memorial Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan 2012.
"Genocide." Kigali Memorial Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan 2012.
<http://www.kigalimemorialcentre.org/old/genocide/index.html>.
Stanton, Gregory H.. "What is
Genocide." Genocide Watch. N.p., 2002. Web. 16 Jan 2012.
<http://www.genocidewatch.org/genocide/whatisit.html>.
Smith, Dr. Steven. "Wasted Lives." Aegis:
Preventing Crimes Against Humanity. Aegis Trust, 2012. Web.
16 Jan 2012.
<http://www.aegistrust.org/Aegis-reports-briefings/wasted-lives.html>.
