History, Genocide, Social Intolerance and Bigotry Essay

Lessons of history have been correctly utilized in a sense that the eventualities and circumstances in the past served as a learning experience for a better future. History served as a reminder on how to uphold the positive undertakings and set aside those which only causes strife. On the other hand, it can be used incorrectly in such a way that oppressed people may tend to see their gloomy past as a reason to revolt and take up arms. Moreover, utilizing history as a predictive instrument has observable limitations in a sense that the eventualities in the past does not necessarily manifests in the future, although it may influence it. On the contrary, history basically serves as a reference point to which critical judgment and better analysis of certain circumstances in the present and the future could be applied. In relation to that, observing the massive killings happening around the world, like acts of genocide could be defined as a deliberate attempt of any group to eliminate and annihilate a certain ethnic group in a belief that cleansing a whole group will also abolish oppression and conflict. According to Gregory Stanton of Genocide Watch, there are actually stages that ultimately leads to genocide. The eight stages are as follows: Classification, or the stage wherein individuals start to cluster the people with the â€Å"us and them† method; Symbolization, where people practices labelling and name calling; Dehumanization, wherein certain groups perceive others not worthy to be considered human beings; Organization, or the establishment of a structured group like militias; Polarization, which divides the group apart because of the works of extremists; Preparation, or the drawing out of death lists and threats; Extermination, or the mass killings and ethnic cleansing stage; and Denial, wherein the perpetrators makes a lot of effort in covering up their inhumane acts and intimidates their witnesses (Stanton, 1996). Some acts of genocide is reported to have been institutionalized and sanctioned by the government like the Janjaweed militia of the Darfur crisis. These Janjaweed forces are believed to be supported by the government because it is through this powerful group that the oil from the Darfur region could be accessed since they threaten the people with acts of violence (Koerner, 2005). Having dominion over the oil industry in Darfur would allow economic growth and stability. For its political implication, the government continually supports the undertakings of the Janjaweeds because they continue to uphold the purpose of their creation which is to destroy the African tribes who were believed to be supporting insurgent groups against the government (Reeves, 2005). In line with that, a possible foundation of social intolerance resides in the people’s fear of the unknown wherein they are uncertain in accepting other people’s perspectives apart from theirs, fearing the implications it may have on them. Another basis of social intolerance and bigotry are the people’s lack of openness to communicate to other people and a feeling of superiority over individuals who are not â€Å"like† them or have similar ideologies. References Koerner, B. (2005). Who are the Janjaweed. Retrieved June 5, 2008, from http://www. slate. com/id/2104210/. Reeves, E. (2005). Genocide in Darfur-How the Horror Began. Retrieved June 5, 2008, from http://www. sudantribune. com/article. php3? id_article=11445. Stanton, G. (1996). The Eight Stages of Genocide. Retrieved June 5, 2008, from http://www. genocidewatch. org/8stages. htm.