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Genocide: "Genocide" Taboo Why We're Afraid of the G-Word

          Alice Hu, in her article “ 'Genocide' Taboo Why We're Afraid of the G-Word ” published in the magazine Harvard International Review on Summer 2016, discusses the United Nations definition and origin of the word “genocide” and how it is different than simply mass violence. And she also hope the International law helps protect people from genocide.
          The author first talk about the term genocide is based on Greek prefix for “race” and the Latin suffix for “killing”.  It was first used by Raphael Lemkin in 1944.  Hu said that in Raphael’s view, genocide is “a premeditated crime with clearly defined goals, rather than just an aberration.”  Raphael told this view to the new formed United Nations in 1948 and made the first genocide international law and to prevent and punish when someone or some government does genocide. Since then genocide has been discussed many times.  Hu mentions the Rwandans, Mayans in Guatemala, the Bosnian Muslims in Bosnia, Darfur in the Sudan, and the Armenians in Turkey.  Those four cases, only Darfur did the United Nations check out and tell the events were genocide.  This happened because the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell.  Hu said, “In face of widespread resistance to labeling the Darfur case a genocide, Powell’s decision to use the “G-word” in 2004 before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee became monumental.”  The end of article, Hu explains why the strong resistance continues and it is big responsibility in the world. Hu also wish people more understanding about “the Stain called Genocide”, more doing and more changing…….
Lebanese of Armenian descent commemorate the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, the sucessor state to the Ottoman
EmPire,refuses to acknowledge the mass killings as a genocide.
          In this whole article, Hu does not talk about genocide and impact on the victims with no action by the United Nations. It is very difficult to say something is genocide because there must have enough evidence. It would be dumb to call genocide by only listening to someone else's description. I think any war or event has specific historical background and original reasons. We must find its original reason, then the problem could be solved. But any type genocide brings cultural shame and It is a long term harm to people spiritually. it is sad that people don't know that, When they celebrate their success, they forget everything ( see right photo ).  It was painful when I read this article, what can I do? I only can wish that the world will happen with less genocide and more peaceful.
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  1. UnknownMarch 18, 2018 at 5:32 PM

    I never knew how bad Genocide was until i read your blog. everyone has a responsibility to help end this abuse.

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