You've all heard the phrase "never again" about the holocaust and stuff. Yet although after world war 2 we pledged to stop genocide and prevent it from happening, we have seen in many cases, the international community turning a deaf ear to the cries of help when genocids does occur. The most well known incidents of genocide since we pledged "Never again" that were not stopped anywhere near quickly enough, were Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. Do you guys think "Never again" really means anything? I sure as hell don't, as the international community has proven that they will more than likely shy away from preventing and stopping genocide. Also, I thought this article was interesting: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/04/obama-speaks-at-holocaust-museum/1
It's true, so long as you live in Europe... Bosnia I wouldn't count as a failure because we eventually went in, unlike the other examples you listed. The Somalian experience really did a great deal to affect our willingness to go into foreign lands (lol... But look at it beyond the war on terror example) for humanitarian purposes. I really thought we were going to make a difference after the Save darfur event back in 06 but unfortunately we're either incapable or unwilling to take altruistic actions.
It means nothing considering such events continue today: genocide, mass murder, discrimination, etc. It never meant anything considering it was immediately broken as soon as WW2 ended.
Well i'd like to think it means something to me, if no-one else. As someone who sails close to the wind in their err, slightly less negative view of the Nazis, 'never again' is very important. It's up to everyone else whether they're going to 'learn' from history or not, I guess. I'd like to think I could stand against such things if ever I had to, but what can men do against such reckless hate? (Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have shoe-horned in a Lord of the Rings reference, but oh well).
Although I guess it has worked for Racism some what. If you call a black person a nigger today may the lord have mercy on you as a million white males will team up and crucify you to show the black community that not all whites are racist. On the world wide scale "never again" has no significance but in a one country it can have a huge effect (slavery in America for example or Nazism in Germany).
Never again would mean something if countries were willing to stand up for that ideal. For example, it would be a lot more respected if the UN had more authority.
Rules of engagement can be changed, but not enough to allow massacres by UN forces. More like, don't fire unless innocents are being murdered, and use deadly force only when absolutely necessary. But I was thinking something along the lines of UN resolutions having more power, and being binding on all nations of the world. So that things like Human Rights aren't turned into just a bunch of suggestions.
Here "Never Again" is used towards the last dictatorship, and specially it's actions, and I think (or at least I like to) it's taken very seriously.
That's not really what I meant though. Changing UN rules of engagement is controversial. Those rules of engagement are in place to make sure the UN doesn't just become another aggressor. They are there to keep the peace, not contribute to the violence.
