Has anyone written a worthwhile exploration of the impact of bearing witness to a genocide in which we are unwillingly complicit? Please link me up, if so. Ty. - ThreadSky

leahmcelrath.bsky.social • 72 days ago

Has anyone written a worthwhile exploration of the impact of bearing witness to a genocide in which we are unwillingly complicit?

Please link me up, if so. Ty.

Comments

theradcap.bsky.social•71 days ago

People can't change their past behaviors, they can only work to improve their future ones, such as withdrawing their support of a political system that has resulted in the horrors that exist today.

gentlem.bsky.social•72 days ago

https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/inside-kenyan-cult-starved-itself-death

mellieelle.bsky.social•71 days ago

Wow, this is a devastating story. Thank you for sharing.

gentlem.bsky.social•71 days ago

You are more than welcome. Thank you for your interest. 🕊️

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thank you!

rabbiariel.bsky.social•72 days ago

fiction or non?

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Most interested in something non-fiction and with a view toward Gaza, but I’m grateful for any suggestions.

rabbiariel.bsky.social•72 days ago

I'd start by asking the New Israel Fund's David Sokatch, and unless you want to keep it to a particular group of complicit (U.S.), Omer Bartov (Israel) would be a promising lead

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thanks so much!

overtopradio.bsky.social•71 days ago

Find Alexander Hinton.

Look for lectures and keynote speeches on YouTube given by Dr. Alexander Hinton. He is an expert in genocides and atrocity crimes who served as a witness during the trial of Doyk (Khmer Rouge). Hair raising accounts were told to him by victims and perpetrators.

overtopradio.bsky.social•71 days ago

I misspelled the name. Although pronounced "Doyk," the guy Hinton testified against was "Duch," who ran the S-21 prison.

backgroundn015e.bsky.social•72 days ago

From the aspect of virtual traumatic impact on individuals, Bellingcat has a piece originally written as a guide for those documenting atrocities. I think you will find some useful tips in there.

https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thanks so much!

palace-1001-rooms.bsky.social•72 days ago

i believe that was called the Vietnam War and you should be able to find lots of info on it

fxrzo.bsky.social•72 days ago

psychiatrist Jonathan Shay used the term "moral injury" to describe Vietnam veterans' experience of betrayal by authority figures

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

“Moral injury” is such a good and succinct term. I think there’s spiritual injury as well.

fxrzo.bsky.social•72 days ago

harder to operationally define but yeah

john-miller62.bsky.social•72 days ago

Shake hands with the devil is an excellent read. A little depressing to realize how completely useless the U.N. is and how self centered all our governments are.

kathiroc.bsky.social•72 days ago

To be Fair, the UN is held hostage by the US and its perennial veto. They're trying to change it but it's an uphill battle.

freedomparty.bsky.social•71 days ago

I just heard a United Nations rep say the USA is behind in their promised yearly donation for 2024. And she added "...they can lose their vote for 2025 if it's not caught up this year". That'd be perfect for the UNSC

kathiroc.bsky.social•71 days ago

They are, but they have been making partial payments. There's a % involved and they can only lose their charter member status if they are above that. I suspect they are dragging their feet on purpose, but making sure not to overstep. No way they will give up their veto.

geraniumteacup.bsky.social•72 days ago

Hannah Arendt, 'The Banality of Evil', is worth a read.

chrissy86.bsky.social•72 days ago

volunteer33.bsky.social•72 days ago

I suspect it's not quite what you're asking for but you might take a look at Carolyn Forche's "Against Forgetting"

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thank you!

gtbtr.bsky.social•72 days ago

I don't have any research about it on hand, but it certainly seems actionable.

We need to dive deep into litigation over psychological warfare and the harmful effects of profit motives.

merklegroot.bsky.social•72 days ago

There's no such thing as "a genocide." It's just "genocide."

I don't usually care about grammar so much and I make mistakes too.

In this case, the grammar error betrays the phrase's origins in foreign propaganda.

mellieelle.bsky.social•71 days ago

I can only speak for myself, but physiologically I am at a point of empathy fatigue. I cannot feel much emotion. I feel empty, especially in regard to nonsense of the west. I've become blunt in my responses. I no longer believe morality is anything other than an elitist tool to control the masses.

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•71 days ago

I hear you. Whether intentional or not, we are all being conditioned along those lines, and it’s deeply troubling me. Hence my query.

Take care 💜

hollywoodhi.bsky.social•72 days ago

Plenty on the 1921 Tulsa OK massacre, if your brave enough.

bambookeys.bsky.social•72 days ago

Not exactly, but the author in this piece has to struggle with forgiving a nazi solider on their deathbed.

The author's experience is then discussed by several prominent subject matter experts.

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thanks!

ze11e05.bsky.social•72 days ago

https://www.threads.net/@ze11e_05/post/DEFcaz1oQye?xmt=AQGzrILIMN18yt2S9K3NCwYfrFPjmc1qYU_Ja7HNwx6g6Q

petergoth.bsky.social•72 days ago

Excellent but as you can imagine incredibly difficult read is Canadian Ret. General Romeo Dallaire's book on his experience in Rwanda and the impact on him https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Hands_with_the_Devil_(book)

giantreflector.bsky.social•72 days ago

Oh wow, thank you.

yomaggie.bsky.social•72 days ago

Saw that it was about Rwanda, added it to my cart, and immediately started steeling myself in preparation for how difficult it would be to get through.🙄

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thanks so much!

houmanreporter.bsky.social•72 days ago

Samantha Power’s book if you’ve never read it before.
She owes us an update too after years in government, and watching what our own nation will do on the border under Trump.

adogabroadayear.bsky.social•72 days ago

I feel like Shake Hands With the Devil by Romeo Dalliare is an interesting look at this as well.

neal-stanifer.bsky.social•72 days ago

There's a film on the Holodomor called "Mr. Jones." I recommend viewing it after (or while) reading Anne Applebaum's "Red Famine." Warning: The book deals with the slow and deliberate starvation of Ukrainians, and the film includes scenes of cannibalism.

moosedog.io•27 days ago

And also a book entitled Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest.

authorarianaaugust.bsky.social•72 days ago

That’s something I’ve been meaning to write about. Let me mull it over and research 💕

valerienotmalerie.bsky.social•72 days ago

Let us know what you find!

billieburton.bsky.social•72 days ago

I mean this is literally Shake Hands With the Devil by Gen. Romeo Dallaire. Great book, greater guy. He has also published on his PTSD & new book called 'The Peace'. Start with Shake Hands With the Devil. Life-changing.

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Appreciate the recommendation!

billieburton.bsky.social•72 days ago

It is totally worth it. I was only 12 at the time but it led my life to digitally investigating war crimes & human rights in Central Africa, before I started transitioning. Enjoy!

caeborg.bsky.social•72 days ago

Which one?

fizzgigg.bsky.social•72 days ago

This thread on Insta from @janfran.bsky.social is hitting me hard today. https://www.instagram.com/p/DEOQQXxy62f/?igsh=NWprNW5kbG5sYXNt

#FreePalestine

lilsmoltextil.bsky.social•72 days ago

wondering if you have read this:: The Shapes of Grief,
Witnessing the unbearable, Christina Sharpe in the Yale Review

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

No—I haven’t. Thanks!

rogerjacucci.bsky.social•72 days ago

Schindler's List https://g.co/kgs/4Z4EPVL

leahmcelrath.bsky.social•72 days ago

Thanks, I’ve seen it, of course, but it might be worth reading.

boy-5.bsky.social•72 days ago

American foreign policy for decades

hollykins.bsky.social•72 days ago

I feel like I’ve read something on Rwanda like this but it eludes me

toobiefrank.bsky.social•72 days ago

Aren’t we unwillingly complicit to Climate Change, the plastic pollution, mountain top removal, an AI apocalypse, and whatever the fork you call this profits over people society because we pay our taxes? Even if WE could take control would it be ethical since we are a minority?

sanjaynayak.bsky.social•72 days ago

📌

chava.bsky.social•71 days ago

Not genocide per se, but the book "states of denial" explores how communities can live beside atrocity (such as in apartheid south africa, or more generally via media), and what it takes to either actively/passively live in denial of it.

ginamyhill-jones.bsky.social•72 days ago

Wasn’t that “ The Bible”… now that is some genocide and a half ! Homicide, femicide, infantcide… GENOCIDE…claims to be “ historical” and now it’s a playbook for millions… fair question.

emmenemm.bsky.social•71 days ago

Link to list of eyewitness accounts of the 1915-16 Armenian Genocide: https://www.armenian-genocide.org/current_category.251/resourceguide_list.html

emmenemm.bsky.social•71 days ago

The movie The Killing Fields and the book it's based on about the Cambodian Genocide. There are several related memoirs on this topic.

ammariel.bsky.social•72 days ago

Romeo Dallaire book Shake hands with the Devil. It’s in Rwanda genocide.

brawnhilda.bsky.social•72 days ago

Be honest, if you're not revolting, you are willingly complicit

weallwegot.bsky.social•72 days ago

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