Genocide, why care (1.5)

Today we have a new president! The progress our country has made is absolutely incredible. When people ask me, “how on earth do you expect to create change?” I have to wonder– “really? where have you been?” And when people say, “that’s just the way it is, some things will never change.” Oh! How short our memory is! Just look at the past century- the change- the progress- the hope. Today was just… I’m speechless about it right now actually. It’s just… listening to people share their stories of racial injustices, and how they “never believed they’d see the day,” it just, it absolutely blows my mind.

I have to be totally honest. A few months ago when Barack Obama became the President-elect, immediately the news stations started talking about African-American progress. It seemed every channel I flipped to had people crying and going on and on about race. So, here’s where it kind of hurts to be honest. The stories made me frustrated, and I naively turned to my roommates and complained, “why aren’t we past this yet? I hate that it’s even still an issue!” Because I truly feel like its not among my closest friends here at NYU and at home. I grew up in New York, at a (diverse) private school that taught the importance and equality of every human. Many of my best friends growing up didn’t look like me or share my faith, and I never really noticed. But I didn’t have to try to not notice either- it wasn’t purposefully “politically correctly” ignored. It just didn’t matter, and it never crossed my mind to categorize people by the color of their skin or religion. So, when I sat there watching TV, I became frustrated. The newscasters celebrating, and continually talking about race, came across as blatantly racist. Until I really started listening to the stories. Racial injustice isn’t history. Yes there was slavery and Jim Crow laws, and the KKK, but there’s still more college age black males in prison than in college. Older folks can recall memories of segregated schools and water fountains, and while I can’t resonate with that- I can look at the South Bronx and know that something is still deeply wrong. Which is when I stopped myself and joined the celebrating. Inner-city black kids, when asked who they want to be when they grow up, don’t have to look to 50 cent, or fifty years back at Martin Luther King Jr. They can proudly say, “the president of the United States,” and believe its a possibility. We must continue addressing racial injustice in the world. As much as I like to pretend it doesn’t exist, I know it does. You can’t spend two weeks intensively learning about Genocide and pretend it’s not still an issue.

On to Genocide… Why should we care?

I can only attempt to understand the horrors of genocide, but I have to make every effort to understand the incomprehensible. It’s necessary for the victims, for the perpetrators, for the future, and for myself. Just listening to the facts and to the stories of survivors is an act of courage. I ask you to join me. “Why?” you might ask, “what’s in it for me?” Well, besides sleepless nights and interesting dinner conversations, I’m not really sure. But I can guess.

Learning about genocide is the same as any painful experience; it will either make you a stronger, better person, or a bitter person. You might find a new appreciation for life, beauty, and good, or become disheartened, depressed about the world, and build up walls so as to not hurt again. I’m struggling right now- I want to just crawl in bed. In the back of my head, I know that ignoring pain does not make life easier; ignoring pain greatly inhibits ones ability to love and to live life to the fullest. Blah blah blah- so cliche! But I think C.S. Lewis said it very well,

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. Wrap it around carefully with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket of your self-ishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

Pain happens. Genocide happens. People are slaughtered and raped and we can choose to ignore it. It’s easy because we never have to see it. We can just change the channel when anything makes us uncomfortable. Smile and nod to people on the street handing out flyers, but keep walking. Mark the e-mails from “savedarfur.org” as junk. It’s really, really easy to ignore, but we do humanity and ourselves a disservice when we look the other way. It lets the violence continue. After the Holocaust, the world vowed “never again.” Never again would the world sit idly by while people were systematically murdered. But it has happened again- more than once, and it will continue to happen unless we ask the tough questions: Why does genocide happen? How are some people so cruel? Are some people evil and some good?  Or do each of us have the same capacity for acting as an agent for good or for evil? Are circumstances and events in our childhood the deciding factor for who we become? Should I really use the two categories of good and evil, or should there be more? What is wrong in the world? What is wrong in my country? What is wrong in my community? What can I change within myself? What can we all do to make this world a better place?

By caring and learning about the atrocities committed around the world, we will hurt, but we will also be freer to live. Hm. Let me explain with an example. Remembering, and letting ourselves feel for humanity is essential for our survival of the self. When one person suffers from a traumatic event, he or she recovers fastest when letting themselves feel it. Studies show that Holocaust victims who later are hospitalized for psychosis are silent of their days during the Holocaust. It’s as if their memories have been erased, and they refuse to talk. On the other hand, survivors who were not hospitalized share clear memories of their experience. There is no denial or repression evident. click here for more information about the study. Suzanne Kaplan interviewed one survivor who explained that memory let him keep a sense of self during his time in the concentration camp. Those who could keep a narrative of their trauma went on to lead relatively normal lives, while those who lost their story, lost themselves. The connection to humanity at large might not seem apparent at first and I know I’m kind of stretching it, but.. If humanity’s one body, and we choose to ignore feeling for the people of Rwanda, or Cambodia, or Bosnia, or the victims of Hurricane Katrina or the Tsunami- then we risk our sanity.

At some point in life, most people experience a huge “oh.” It can come early, after some childhood abuse, or it can come after a near death experience, a trip to a third world country, or the death of a family member. It’s an “oh” that makes one ask, “what is the point?”or “how could this happen?” Some choose to ignore the questions, others silence them with alcohol, drugs, sex, and hobbies. These questions are especially poignant when talking about genocide. They are hard questions, but I have to address them to keep my sanity. Maybe at the end of this journey I’ll share my own thoughts of “why,” and I would love to hear yours. But, for humanity’s sake, I plead with you: learn with me; care with me; hurt with me, and ask the hard questions.

Genocide (1)

Over the past two weeks, Everita Silina has been (intensively) teaching me about genocide. Everita Silina, a visiting professor from the New School, is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. Over the next few days I will be processing everything I have learned. The facts are disturbing, but before I jump into exploring the worst crimes against humanity, I want to provide an overview of genocide for myself and for anyone interested.

This is the just the first entry in a series.

1. Genocide, what is it?
2. Genocide, psychoanalytical thoughts
3. 1915-1918 Armenians in Turkey (1,500,000 deaths)
4. 1932-1933 Stalin’s Forced Famine (7,000,000 deaths)
5. 1938-1945 Nazi Holocaust (6,000,000 deaths)
6. 1975-1979 Pol Pot in Cambodia (2,000,000 deaths)
7. 1994 Rwanda (800,000 deaths)
8. 1992-1995 Bosnia/Herzegovina (200,000 deaths)
9. 2004-2008 Darfur
10. Heroes
11. Trying to make sense of everything

What is Genocide?

Genocide, as defined by Article 2 of the Genocide Convention, is as follows:

Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnicity, racial or religious group, as such:
•    Killing members of the group;
•    Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
•    Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.
•    Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
•    Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

We immediately face some tough questions: how do we measure intent? Does the whole group, or just part of the group have to be targeted? How big or small is “part” of a group? Do we measure “parts of groups” by percentages or numbers? For example, if there are only two individuals of an ethnic group alive (as is the case for one tribe in Alaska), if you murder one person, you’ve wiped out 50% of their population. Genocide? Where do the Native Americans fit into this? If colonists/explorers killed 90% of their population, isn’t that Genocide?

How do we evaluate Genocide?

Through strategy (does the perpetrator slaughter the people with machetes or in concentration camps, by denying food or water, through rape or forced deportation, or just with dehumanization), the group (national, ethnicity, racial, or religious groups, but what about political, sexual, tribal, social, economic or cultural groups?), the perpetrator (is it the government, citizens, or an outside strong force?), by the outcomes (does the perpetrator just have to kill a few people or succeed, or what if the perpetrator is stopped before going through with the plans? Is intent all that’s important?), or the level of intent (permissive policy, systematic plan, but no evidence?).

Are bystanders innocent?

What about human rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains thirty articles that define human rights for everyone in the world. However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is only a declaration, and contains no laws. One cannot use the articles to accuse people of any crimes. The end of the document contains group rights, but what constitutes a group? The Amish and Christian Scientists are obvious groups. The Amish went to court and won the right to teach their children in local schools up until age 15. In this case, the group wants to keep their culture and teach what they think is right, but is it infringing on the children’s right to a good education?

We face a similar, but more serious problem with Christian scientists. Christian scientists believe that everything comes from God, and anything that comes from God is good, including diseases.  But what happens when a three year old has a disease and the child dies from lack of medical care. Neutrality is not possible here. Inaction is an action. The government must either step in and require medical treatment, or sit idly by.  Would stepping in and taking the child away from the parents be an infringement on rights if not doing anything means that kids might die?

International Law (history)

After World War I, the League of Nations was established to monitor aggression between countries. The Permanent Court of International Justice was also established as an international court to settle disagreements between countries.

After World War II, the world established the United Nations. Now, almost two hundred nations are members of the UN. (more on the UN later)

The International Court of Justice is a court for state nations and the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. The ICJ (or world court) functions legal disputes between countries or agencies and the UN General Assembly. For example, Bosnia filed a complaint against Serbia for genocide. In 2007, the court came back and ruled that Serbia did not commit genocide because they couldn’t find any intent. The court agreed that there was a genocide, but they weren’t sure who to blame for it.

The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 through the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court to prosecute individuals for crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of aggression, and genocide. 108 nation states are members, but the United States, China, Russia and India have not joined yet.

International Human Rights laws just deal with how governments treat their own people.

International Humanitarian Law

Geneva and Hague conventions began as early as the early 19th century to make rules about behavior during times of war. Initially only concerned with wars between states, laws concerning civil wars have been added more recently. The laws protect civilians, medics, aid workers, the wounded and prisoners of war.

The Geneva Conventions of 1863,1864,1868 said what kind of weapons you could have, banned land minds, cluster bombs, gasses, and anything that inflicts too much damage. Also made a rule that one cannot attack populations that are not armed. Soldiers are only allowed to attack people in uniforms. You don’t attack medical personnel and you must let medical personnel in to help. Naval agreements- can’t mine harbors.

War Crimes

A war crime can happen anywhere and they are just crimes committed during times of war. One must go look at international humanitarian law to see what to charge against someone who has committed war crimes. A genocide is an accumulation of all of these crimes against a type of people.

War of Aggression

A war of aggression is when a country goes to war for self-interest and its not in the best interest of other people. A war of aggression means there was no good reason to go to war. A war of aggression might be when a country goes in for territory. No one has been called on a war of aggression since Germany. Germany was charged with a war of aggression, war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity. The UN withheld the phrase when Iraq attacked Kuwait. Today, some try to argue that the US in Afghanistan or the US in Iraq is a war of aggression, however the UN has never claimed the US is perpetrating a war of aggression. So what are good reasons to go to war? Security, self-protection, and when people are suffering from gross human rights violations.

3. 1915-1918 Armenians in Turkey (1,500,000+ deaths)

It’s only appropriate to start with the first genocide of the 20th century- “The Armenian Genocide.” This may come as a surprise or it may not, but the Holocaust was not the first nor the last genocide. Between 1915-1923, Ottoman Turks killed more than 1.5 million Armenians through forced deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre, and starvation. The vast majority of the Armenian population was removed to Syria where they were sent into the desert to die of thirst and hunger.

Who was responsible for the Armenian Genocide?
The political party in power, the Committee of Union and Progress (the Young Turks) made the decision to carry out a genocide against the Armenian people.  After World War I, there was a brief period of calm, but between 1920 and 1923, Turkish Nationalists took up the cause and began the massacres again to promote ethnic exclusivity.

How did the international community respond to the Armenian Genocide?

Although the Young Turks tried to keep journalists and photographers out of the area, the international community did know what was happening. U.S. diplomatic representatives and American missionaries reported home, and the international community condemned the Armenian Genocide. In the U.S., there was a public outcry against the genocide. After the war, relief efforts were made to save those left. No reparations were ever made to the people who lost everything, and the Young Turks were never held accountable.

Are the Armenian massacres acknowledged today as a Genocide according to the United Nations Genocide Convention?

Genocide is defined as, “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”  Armenians have sought for acknowledgment of the crimes committed during W.W.I. but only countries where survivors live, like France, Argentina, Greece, and Russia, have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Why is the Armenian Genocide especially important today?

The present-day Republic of Turkey adamantly denies that a genocide was committed against the Armenians during W.W.I.. Considering Turkey is Israel’s strongest Muslim ally, and it adamantly denies it’s own Holocaust-like behavior- it’s an interesting friendship. Furthermore, for the past 18 years, Turkey has been petitioning to join the EU. How can a country that has yet to compensate, much less recognize the slaughtering of 1.5 million of it’s own people be allowed to claim it has European values?

Click here for more information.

Plane down in the Hudson River

Today in my Genocide class, I open a new Internet window to the drudge report. Because the drudge report relays current news as it gets it, today capital red letters spell out something like, “Plane crash in New York City.” I immediately hit refresh but nothing comes up. Over the next few minutes I switch to the New York Times and back, trying to find some more information. Finally, a few sentences are added to the story. A U.S. Airways plane leaving from La Guardia crashed in the Hudson River. Memories from September 11th come rushing back and I try to refocus on my teacher. Bosnia. Yugoslavia. Mass murder. The UN. What? Reload. Reload. Reload. I need more information about this crash. Are the people okay? For an agonizing amount of time, I sit and wait for news. I’m tempted to just walk up to 50th street and watch but I decide I can’t watch any more people die. Instead, I sit in my seat and miss almost everything my teacher says. After way too long, a news article pops up saying that all the people on board are safe and that the pilot is a hero. The events of today, and what I’ve learned over the past two weeks, are forcing me to spend some time learning about heroes. I have to, to retain my sanity. So tomorrow, expect an educational rant about the most horrendous acts against humanity. That way, I can give proper homage to the people killed, and to the people who risked their lives to save them. But for now, America’s newest hero-

Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger III

Captain Sullenberger, 57, brought the wounded Airbus A320 passenger plane to rest on the Hudson leading all the passengers on board to safety after something knocked out both engines in the plane. Captain Sullenberger checked the cabin twice for anyone left behind before he left the sinking plane himself. When both engines erupted in flames, Captain Sullenberger did not panic. Instead, in a split second he told the passengers to prepare for impact, and he landed the plane beautifully on the Hudson River.

155 people waiting to be rescued Thursday afternoon

For more information, click here.