The Elder was kind enough to publish my latest Sunday column entitled, And Cries of "Genocide" Rang Out Across the Land...Here is a tid-bit:
"As for "genocide" there is one taking place in Syria, but there is not one taking place in Gaza. If by "genocide" we mean a significant decrease in a particular population due to war and malice then Syria qualifies, but Gaza does not. The Armenian genocide was a genocide. The Holocaust of the Jews and the Sinti and Roma (Gypsy) were genocides. Syria, with its 150,000 dead, is a genocide. But, I'm sorry, while the Gaza operation is terrible for the Gazans and has resulted in around 1,500 deaths as of August 1, it does not come close to any meaningful definition of genocide.
Let us therefore take a look at claims of genocide on Daily Kos between the two conflicts. Given the fact that Syria does represent an actual genocide and Gaza does not, one would hope that this would be reflected in the sentiments among progressives. Once again, sadly, one's hopes would be dashed.
An examination of the 143 "diaries" with the tag "Syria" reveals no mention of the word "genocide." I combed through many of the more widely commented pieces and found no reference to "genocide" whatsoever.
I, of course, did not read every single comment under those 143 "diaries," but I did keyword search and found nothing.
By contrast, there were thirty comments accusing Israel of genocide in just one day alone, the day of August 1."
The meaning of the word has disappeared. Under the UN definition, most every war qualifies. Israel has done it. Hamas has done it. Probably both (or all 12) sides in the Syrian conflict have done it. The Yazidi people may not have. I'm guessing the Baha'i are guiltless. There is no reference to great numbers.
ReplyDeleteI know.
DeleteIn fact, I fully expect someone to call me out on the idea that civil war can be genocidal on both sides, but according to the UN definition it certainly can.
What we should be talking about, I suppose, is the severity of the killing go on.
By any measure, Israel in Gaza is not even close to the severity of what is going on in Syria, not to mention that the Islamic State is actually beheading children and putting those heads on stakes.
In any case, I cannot believe the way that one particular schmuck screamed at KaneinCA.
"YOU are an apologist for GENOCIDE!"
What a disgrace.
The meaning of the word may well have disappeared given its obvious propaganda uses lately. That said, some Arabs definitely want to engage in it given their statements about wiping out Jews, Zionists and various other infidels. I can think of no others on a large scale who wish to do so. Lots of wacko antisemites and neo-Nazis but those numbers are low.
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