The Wipeout of Generations

Genocide’s shadow has been lingering over the world’s head for centuries. Genocides date back to Caesar’s era and before. Genocides have either left a group of people extinct or near depletion. This conflit brings long-term as well as short-term consequences to many civilizations dealing with genocide. No one is safe from genocide; it can happen to any ethnicity. Society needs to prevent genocide to stop ethnic wipeouts; however, no actions are in affect. The only law trying to stop genocide is from the United Nations:

“The UN Convention defines genocide as follows: ‘ Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: a) killing members of the group; b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction in whole or in part;…’” (Totten)

David Rieff states, “the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, originally known as Resolution 260A (III) of the United Nations General Assembly, was passed on December 9, 1948” (65). As of 1948, 120 countries have ratified this law (Rieff 65). Although this international law was a highlight of the efforts to stop genocide, the law has proven itself ineffective because genocides still occur today.

According to Daniel Chriot and Jennifer Edwards “four basic types of genocide based on the rationale and objectives of the perpetrators”, exist. The reasons for genocide fall under these four types: convenience, revenge, fear, or purification. Convenience is an objective because some civilizations believe that it is easier to kill a population rather th...

... middle of paper ...

...exts. Spring 2003: 12-19. SIRS Researcher. Web. 18 May 2011.

Hirsh, Herbert. “How People Are Persuaded to Commit Genocide.” Genocide. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. 73-78. Print.

Melicharova, Margaret. Peace Pledge Union Information: Genocide. Peace Pledge Union. 2002. Web. 14 May 2011.

Morrock, Richard. “The Genocidal Impulse: Why Nations Kill Other Nations.” Genocide. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. 79-85. Print.

Power, Samantha. “Raising the Cost of Genocide.” Dissent Vol. 49. No. 2. March 2002: 85. SIRS Researcher. Web. 18 May 2011.

Rieff, David. “Defining Genocide.” Genocide. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. 65-72. Print.

Totten, Samuel. “The Scrounge of Genocide: Issues Facing Humanity Today and Tomorrow.” Social Education Vol. 62. No. 2. March 1999: 116-121. SIRS Researcher. Web. 18 May 2011