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Genocide In Rwanda: Could It Happen Here?

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  • Genocide In Rwanda: Could It Happen Here?

    GENOCIDE IN RWANDA: COULD IT HAPPEN HERE?
    By Lee Bycel
    Special to The Aspen Times

    Aspen Times, CO -
    April 24, 2006

    I recently returned from Kigali, where the people of Rwanda observed
    the 12th commemoration of that nation's haunting genocide. On April
    7, 1994, the nightmare began. Eight hundred thousand Rwandans were
    killed in 100 days. That event seems unfathomable now, but the pain
    in Kigali is still raw. At various memorial ceremonies, adults and
    children wailed at the loss of loved ones, devastated families and
    man's inhumanity to man. The agony of their mourning is palpable.

    Kigali has been rebuilt; it is a beautiful city yet haunted by its
    past. It is beyond my understanding how, just a short while ago,
    neighbor killed neighbor, relative killed relative, friend killed
    friend with machetes, guns and knives. The slaughter took place
    while most of the world stood by as dispassionate observers. I came
    to Kigali to learn more about the legacy of genocide and grapple with
    why we have repeated it so frequently in the last century, including
    Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda and now Darfur. Why is our
    indifference so profound?

    This week, Armenians, Jews and concerned human beings all over
    the world commemorate the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust that
    collectively took the lives of nearly 12 million people. For the
    most part, the world stood by and watched or claimed we were not
    aware of the situation. I know that we have advanced in so many
    areas, but have we advanced in human terms - measured by compassion,
    peace, ability to realize that every one in this world deserves to
    be treated with dignity and protected by universal rights? I think of
    the world in which these two horrific and incomprehensible genocidal
    catastrophes took place. Why were we and why do still fundamentally
    remain so indifferent? No longer can we claim lack of knowledge. Has
    the modern world, complete with information overload and escapist
    technology, led to our collective numbness to the growing storms of
    trouble around the world? Are we incapable of learning from the past?

    Indifference is like an untreated cancer, spreading through our hearts,
    minds and souls. Indifference seriously affects all of us. As Martin
    Luther King wrote, "The day we see the truth and cease to speak is
    the day we begin to die." We must fight indifference and cultivate
    a society where people act courageously, speak out and pursue justice.

    How do we do that? Rwanda offers a timely example. I met with the
    dynamic president of Rwanda, Paul Kagami. He is fully committed to
    building a society based on civility and justice - his vision and
    energy are resolute. He has witnessed the devastating consequences
    of a society where ethnic conflict and cruelty run rampant. He lives
    with the pain of genocide, it continues on in the lives that have
    been torn apart.

    Kagami's vision for his country's future is based not on rebuilding
    what was, but in shaping something that has not been. His vision will
    become a reality based on forgiveness, reconciliation, understanding
    and a deep resolve to creating a viable society out of the ashes of
    ethnic hatred.

    Could genocide happen here? I don't know, but the question keeps
    me up at night. I have great faith in our democratic processes and
    the safeguards that mark our society. I have deep confidence in the
    American people and the reasons we shaped and maintain the principles
    of this country. Yet I wonder what moved the Rwandan people from living
    together, often with difficulty and amidst the problems that affect
    many African countries to murdering one another. I am troubled by our
    intolerance of others, our inability to respect other viewpoints and
    our willingness to silently witness the small but important injustices
    that occur each day. I worry about a society where there are so many
    social, educational, economic and health disparities. Yet I am certain
    that we have the resources to resolve these issues.

    The connection between indifference and genocide is significant.

    Perhaps genocide cannot occur without societal or global
    indifference. Rwanda reminds me of the importance of never taking
    our rights and privileges for granted - and the need to make a deeper
    personal commitment to shaping a society where all are protected.

    This requires actively addressing our social problems and making a
    commitment to civil and respectful discourse with each other.

    I left Kigali wondering how to cure the plague of indifference that
    has enveloped our world. I remain deeply hopeful about America and our
    ability to wrestle with difficult issues. Rwanda informs us, troubles
    us - and, hopefully, stirs us to reevaluate and strengthen the ethical
    and social framework of our society. We must act: nurturing our own
    humanity and taking responsibility. Our personal actions and our
    collective deeds are the antidote to indifference.

    Rabbi Lee Bycel is senior advisor, Global Strategy of International
    Medical Corps and a senior moderator at the Aspen Institute.
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