Spring Break
Remembering the genocide
of my past isn't an option;
it's a necessity and a fact
Selma Skokic
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: Opinion
|
As a child, I grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country torn by war.
I have experienced genocide, and lost almost my entire family to it.
Genocide is defined as the delib-erate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political or cultural group. To me it is more than that. To me it is what took my family away from me; it is what made me a refugee and what made me live in fear for three-and-a-half years of my life.
I was never taught to hate; it is a word that does not exist in my dictionary.
Those who know me would notice no difference in my appearance compared with the next person. I am white and have blue eyes, but I am also a Muslim.
I was despised and persecuted because I am a Muslim, yet the definition of genocide does not include extermination of a religious group. Sure, it is implied, but it is not spelled out for us.
The last genocide that happened to the Bosnian Muslims in the 1990s was not the first one committed against them. It was the 10th in our history.
You'd think we would have learned something, but I guess not. Not only did we forgive the Serbians, but we also forgot.
I don't remember ever learning about the genocides committed against my people in school. I am one of those people that will never forget because I have lost people close to my heart in this genocide.
I am hoping that by reading this article some of you will become more aware that genocide exists. It is not something that happened only in World War II. It happened in the '90s, and it is still happening in Africa to this day. I think that if we talk about it and keep it in remembrance, it is less likely to happen again.
I go back home and visit Bosnia once every two years. Every visit brings back painful memories.
Last time I went, I buried my grandparents, uncle, two aunts and two cousins, ages 6 and 10. All of them were victims of genocide. Last year, my mom went and buried her youngest brother, who was only 25 when he was killed, and he left behind an infant child and a young wife. My family was killed in late '92 just because they were Muslims, and their remains were finally laid to rest 13 years after their deaths.
When I go back home, all I remember is who is not there to greet me. There is no one who will be happy to see me. I talk about my past all the time because I will not allow myself to forget and I will never forgive either. How do you forgive someone for killing your family? How is my mother supposed to forgive, or my little cousin who was orphaned at 7 months? We will never forgive or forget.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Andrew767
Andrew
posted 9/09/08 @ 10:53 PM PST
Genocide is the denial of human life. It requires information control to convince one society that it is entitled to eliminate another without admitting they killing a people and trying to wipe those people's contribution out of human existence. (Continued…)
Post a Comment