General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSarajevo, Rwanda, Cambodia and Armenia can't happen here can it?
This is what scares me about the hate that Trump is stirring up. Sarajevo was a beautiful multi ethnic city when it hosted the winter Olympics. Tito's death left a vacuum that gave rise to movements to make Serbia great again.
A psychiatrist who had lived peaceable with his neighbors of varying ethnicities decided it was his time to greatness. Radovan Karadić stired up the passions of his Serb neighbors against the Croat and Muslim residents of Sarajevo. A massive civil war broke out that destroyed the city leaving many people dead and injured.
If you think it can't happen here- think again. We have the same kind of ethnic mix, even more so with would be Karadić stirring the pot. I really don't have an answer how to prevent an American holocaust. I feel like a Cassandra. Hopefully I am just being pessimistic and am wrong.
JFKDem62
(383 posts)America will not go in this direction.
Albertoo
(2,016 posts)The ethnic minorities are not separated by religion and do not identify as minorities first, Americans second (as a Serb or a Tutsi would)
TexasProgresive
(12,164 posts)All the rest of us are vermin to be eliminated. That's how I see it. I hope you are right and I am wrong.
Albertoo
(2,016 posts)which is why the Rwanda/Yugoslavia parallel isn't in the cards
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)http://faculty.vassar.edu/tilongma/Church&Genocide.html
Albertoo
(2,016 posts)the slash stood for 'or': ethnic/religious = ethnic or religious.
Sorry if it wasn't clear.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)Trump has a history of discriminating against black people; he attacks Mexican immigrants; non-white people suffer at the hands of the police. Even in the Democratic party, we look at how black and white people choose their candidates.
Albertoo
(2,016 posts)That is the key difference with the conflicts mentioned:
- Armenia: people defined themselves as Turks or Armenians first
- Rwanda: people defined themselves as Tutsis or Hutus first
(again, an illustration of the artificiality of the borders drawn by the colonial powers)
A Mexican-American, an African-American or an Asian American would define themselves as Americans first and not as Latinos, Blacks or Asians. Hence, my distinction.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)It's not whether the victims identify as a minority first; it's whether the oppressors/attackers claim they do. And Trump's a racist who hates Mexicans and is stirring up more hatred.
Albertoo
(2,016 posts)I do not think even Trump supporters (the bulk of them) would define African-Americans, Mexican-Americans or Asian-Americans as Blacks, Latinos or Asians first.
Further, I think Trump supporters are motivated by the effects of immigration and/or free trade agreements on jobs first, not by a racial animus (even if many racists will vote Trump)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3489656/To-dismiss-Trump-bigoted-buffoon-YUGE-mistake-s-elite-bashing-hit-workers-Political-svengali-helped-sweep-David-Cameron-power-gives-stunning-appraisal-president.html
noamnety
(20,234 posts)along with the Flint water situation - but that sort of water war.
JI7
(89,283 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)There are real benefits in uniethnic societies. In multiethnic societies political parties segregate by ethnicity/race.
In the US, the Republican party is for white folks. Democratic party is for black folks and their allies.
There will be a shooting war in 25 years in the US.
Long term, either a military caste like Egypt rules, a genocide or ethnic cleansing or many smaller and independent States.
Republics do not work and cannot work with the sortswe have running things.
romanic
(2,841 posts)The truth is, despite the benefits of a multicultural society; you also have it's pitfalls too. Diversity can be a great thing, but that word being a combination of the words "divisive" and "adversity" isn't just a coincidence.
mountain grammy
(26,663 posts)mainly because I don't trust law enforcement.
TexasProgresive
(12,164 posts)Stuart G
(38,454 posts)mountain grammy
(26,663 posts)read it some 40 years ago. Required my children to read it too. Yes, that was indeed ethnic cleansing.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)yardwork
(61,748 posts)JanMichael
(24,898 posts)it has happened here. maybe not recently but it has.
i forgot general order no. 11 1863. white on white regional ethnic cleansing. evicted then homes burned down.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)The other, of course, being L.A. post-Rodney King.
At the time, I thought that the IOC could make a special assessment to its member countries to rebuild Sarajevo. Then I learned about the IOC's fascist history, and eighty-sixed that one.
yardwork
(61,748 posts)One of the most cultured places in the world when it's people embraced Nazism.
Hell yes it could happen here.