Genocide

 

 

"Many times man's inhumanity to man knows no boundaries..."

 

Suri stumbled in the door of the United Nations outpost. Blood was caked on the side of his head and he was still dizzy from the rifle butt knocking him unconscious. "Please help me sir! Please! They have taken my daughters! My son, my wife, they are..." Suri could not find the words. He wanted to tell what had happened to his son and wife, but it was too painful. They shot his fourteen year old son in the face and then raped his wife. Once they had finished raping her, they slit her throat.

 

The soldier from the United Nations told Suri to take a seat. This was an all too familiar tale. He would hear similar stories over and over from the local population. He did not need to hear anymore from Suri to imagine what happened to his family. Truthfully, most of the UN soldiers at the outpost hated this duty. It was more than dangerous. The rebels were vicious, and if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, or if they found out you were not of their religion, you would most likely be killed or maimed. There was very little the UN was willing or able to do to stop the carnage. The world did not seem to care, so the killing and suffering continued. It was a nightmare that replayed over and over, as in a continuous loop.

 

The above story could have taken place anywhere - however, it was most likely in Africa. I would like to say this was something that happened many years ago, however it continues today. There is no international police force to call when atrocities like this happen. There is no justice to be dispensed from a world court. People are left to suffer their own fate. Innocent people. Guilty of nothing. Killed, robbed, raped and maimed. And the world continues to have a blind eye to justice.

 

There was a time when there was hope. At the end of "The Great War", now known as World War I, the world established the League of Nations. This was an organization set up to be the world's policeman, specifically to prevent another world war from ever happening again. When World War II broke out, it was obvious the League did not work, and was disbanded. However, after World War II, a newer, more robust organization armed with an iron clad charter was formed - the United Nations. As the years have gone on, the United Nations, just like the League of Nations, have proved to be feckless - a waste of time and money.

Someone once said if we ever made first contact with an alien species, the first question they might ask is this - "Why do humans kills other humans?" I don't know who from our side could give the alien a good answer to that question. As a human, I can ask a similar question - "Why do we still allow genocide?" As an American I can ask, "Why do we still support the UN when they do NOTHING?" 

During the recent gun debate, Wayne LaPierre of the NRA said the only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Maybe that is what it will take to stop genocide. Send in the troops and kill the killers. I don't know it that is the answer or not. All I know is this - this cannot be our legacy. We must eliminate genocide. None of us can be guilty by omission or commission. It must stop now.