Mari Serebrov's Blog - Posts Tagged "genocide-denial"
Genocide -- From Two Perspectives
IT IS TOO EASY for those who have committed genocide to go on with their lives, forgetting the past and justifying their actions.
IT IS TOO EASY for them to embrace their children, filling their heads with romanticized stories of the “good old days.”
IT IS TOO EASY to point the finger of blame at their victims, saying they deserved to die because they were inferior, uncivilized, a barrier to progress or just too “other.”
IT IS TOO EASY to convince themselves that it wasn’t their fault, that they bear no personal responsibility.
And when the genocide is forgotten or ignored, IT IS TOO EASY for them to believe that it never happened or is buried so deep in the past that it no longer matters.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for those who survive a genocide to go back to life as usual, as they are haunted by the past and the questions of why that will never be answered.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for them to fully face the future as they embrace their children. The memories they share will be few, as the horror and loss are too painful for words.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to point a finger of blame at those responsible when the world refuses to admit that a genocide even occurred.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to convince themselves that they bear no guilt for surviving when so many others died.
And when the genocide continues to be forgotten or ignored, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for them to believe it will ever end, for each denial is another bullet piercing their heart.
IT IS TOO EASY for them to embrace their children, filling their heads with romanticized stories of the “good old days.”
IT IS TOO EASY to point the finger of blame at their victims, saying they deserved to die because they were inferior, uncivilized, a barrier to progress or just too “other.”
IT IS TOO EASY to convince themselves that it wasn’t their fault, that they bear no personal responsibility.
And when the genocide is forgotten or ignored, IT IS TOO EASY for them to believe that it never happened or is buried so deep in the past that it no longer matters.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for those who survive a genocide to go back to life as usual, as they are haunted by the past and the questions of why that will never be answered.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for them to fully face the future as they embrace their children. The memories they share will be few, as the horror and loss are too painful for words.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to point a finger of blame at those responsible when the world refuses to admit that a genocide even occurred.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to convince themselves that they bear no guilt for surviving when so many others died.
And when the genocide continues to be forgotten or ignored, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for them to believe it will ever end, for each denial is another bullet piercing their heart.
