Richard Johnson

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  Richard commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Goldhagen Solves Genocide in Twelve Pages

  First off, it's pretty important to state right off the bat what we already know.  Lives are being lost!  The focus should be on the perpetrators and the victims.  Too often well meaning people fight amongst themselves.  Tragic really, and the killing keeps going on! The focus needs to be on saving lives, and not fighting about who's theory is more right! 

  
  

  We should Unite Against Injustice and Genocide.  Let's call it what it is.   Murder, Rape, Suffering, Crimes Against Humanity! 

  
  

  I have read Goldhagen's book.  And it is much, much more than what you have portrayed here.  So instead of knocking it, I think it will raise consciousness in a very important way.  First of all, most people who are not familiar with the subject do not realize that more people have died in genocidal actions than all military combat combined since the beginning of the twentieth century.  This is very important fact that brings the problem front and center.  I agree with the title, Genocide is Worse Than War.  This is not about "civil wars", per se.  This is an incredible and ongoing threat to humanity on our planet.  Most people in the West feel that it's happening to people "over there".  Out of sight, out of mind.  This fact alone is important for everyone to understand.  A local problem for others to deal with.  If Goldhagen's book just opens people's eyes to this, that is very important.  With all the talk that keeps going on about genocide, public awareness is not where it needs to be to bring on action.

  
  

  The second thing that Goldhagen's book talks about, that's really important is the mind set of the perpetrators and the role a benevolent government has in lighting a genocidal spark.  It is not about "civil wars" alone.  Killing children by the thousands is not a "civil war" action.   It is a hate crime.  One group of people hates another group of people.  And the government says, go ahead you have permission to kill the people you hate.  Goldhagen's book points this out, that the killers CHOOSE to kill. 

  
  

  The third part has to do with the role of a malevolent, self serving government that whips up the underlying prejudices to solidify it's position of power and dominance over its dominion.  This is very important to understand.  It is not "spontaneous".  Genocide is often planned, and sustained over a period of time (weeks, months, years) under the umbrella of a government to wipe out people who it decides is undesirable.  Again, this is not a "civil war" thing.  In Cambodia, China, The former Soviet Union, millions died in Genocide.  Not by civil war.  Because it served a political purpose.  Yes, it would be great to do something about 'civil war'.  These genocides would happen anyway. Civil War isn't part of the deal in these places -- and many others -- it is a political action.

  
  

  I found Goldhagen's book fascinating. It's about so much more than the issue of Genocide.  It looks at the whole enchilada. The local conditions that bring about, or do not bring about mass killing; and the international conditions that inform the local conditions.  What individuals and states are willing or not willing to do.  Ultimately, it is about the human condition.  What's in people's hearts.   To mobilize others to kill, to be a killer, to be a victim, to be a passive bystander, to become active. 

  
  

  I think this book can do a great deal to raise the consciousness of all right minded people.