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The Commentator , NY
March 30 2005
Pulitzer Winning Lecturer Explores Genocides Past and Present
By Gil Landau
Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Genocide is not a topic generally greeted with much enthusiasm.
However, when Samantha Power addressed the subject on March 1, the
auditorium on the Beren Campus was filled to capacity. Employing
humor to make the subject palpable, Power discussed genocides past
and present, as well as their future prevention. She asked if America
can respond to genocide in an age of terror, and answered yes, but
only if it addresses its own human rights issues first.
Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for her book A
Problem from Hell about the history of genocide and ways to prevent
it in the future. She is also a professor at the Kennedy School of
Government in Harvard, and Executive Director for the Carr Institute
for Human Rights Policy.
The lecture began with a synopsis of American foreign policy, or lack
thereof, regarding genocide during much of the 20th century. During
that time, genocide occurred around the world, generally without any
censure. The massacres of the Armenian Christians, Cambodia's killing
fields, Rwanda's tribal genocide, and Hitler's gas chambers occurred
with nominal outcry. Power explained that "bystander syndrome" and
"political inertia" were to blame for the silence. Only in response
to Bosnia during the middle of the Clinton administration did the
public begin to place political pressure on the government.
Power lauded Jewish groups for being instrumental in bringing human
rights and genocide to the forefront of the political scene. She
reasoned that the Jewish cry of "never again" did not only apply to
the holocaust, but to any genocide in any place. However, she
explained, because Jews have been the target of genocide, they are
uniquely qualified to combat it.
Power concluded with an assessment of the post September 11 world.
She addressed the benefits of such an age, which is attuned to terror
and determined to eliminate it. However, she cautioned against using
homeland security as a tool for violation of human rights. In an
equally harsh condemnation, she attacked both Democrats and
Republicans for ignoring issues of genocide. She also chastised the
European and Canadian governments for dumping genocide issues on
America, and America for not leading the world in a campaign against
genocide. However, along with her condemnation of President Bush, she
praised him for recognizing Darfur as genocide, when others would
not. According to human rights groups, pro-government Arab militias
have forced more than one million black Africans from their homes and
killed thousands in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
A short question and answer period was filled with questions ranging
from the usefulness of international organizations to ex-presidential
candidate Kerry's position, and included a short rant by one audience
member on the despicable nature of the Bush administration.
At the end, Power's rallying cry was "Darfur, Darfur, Darfur...." She
urged students to get involved and put pressure on the government to
deal with Darfur, warning that if we do not intercede today, in ten
years "Hotel Darfur" will replace the recent movie Hotel Rwanda.
The lecture was the second speech in the lecture series on human
rights planned by the Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf Scholar-in-Residence
Program in conjunction with the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Center for
International Affairs.
March 30 2005
Pulitzer Winning Lecturer Explores Genocides Past and Present
By Gil Landau
Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Genocide is not a topic generally greeted with much enthusiasm.
However, when Samantha Power addressed the subject on March 1, the
auditorium on the Beren Campus was filled to capacity. Employing
humor to make the subject palpable, Power discussed genocides past
and present, as well as their future prevention. She asked if America
can respond to genocide in an age of terror, and answered yes, but
only if it addresses its own human rights issues first.
Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for her book A
Problem from Hell about the history of genocide and ways to prevent
it in the future. She is also a professor at the Kennedy School of
Government in Harvard, and Executive Director for the Carr Institute
for Human Rights Policy.
The lecture began with a synopsis of American foreign policy, or lack
thereof, regarding genocide during much of the 20th century. During
that time, genocide occurred around the world, generally without any
censure. The massacres of the Armenian Christians, Cambodia's killing
fields, Rwanda's tribal genocide, and Hitler's gas chambers occurred
with nominal outcry. Power explained that "bystander syndrome" and
"political inertia" were to blame for the silence. Only in response
to Bosnia during the middle of the Clinton administration did the
public begin to place political pressure on the government.
Power lauded Jewish groups for being instrumental in bringing human
rights and genocide to the forefront of the political scene. She
reasoned that the Jewish cry of "never again" did not only apply to
the holocaust, but to any genocide in any place. However, she
explained, because Jews have been the target of genocide, they are
uniquely qualified to combat it.
Power concluded with an assessment of the post September 11 world.
She addressed the benefits of such an age, which is attuned to terror
and determined to eliminate it. However, she cautioned against using
homeland security as a tool for violation of human rights. In an
equally harsh condemnation, she attacked both Democrats and
Republicans for ignoring issues of genocide. She also chastised the
European and Canadian governments for dumping genocide issues on
America, and America for not leading the world in a campaign against
genocide. However, along with her condemnation of President Bush, she
praised him for recognizing Darfur as genocide, when others would
not. According to human rights groups, pro-government Arab militias
have forced more than one million black Africans from their homes and
killed thousands in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
A short question and answer period was filled with questions ranging
from the usefulness of international organizations to ex-presidential
candidate Kerry's position, and included a short rant by one audience
member on the despicable nature of the Bush administration.
At the end, Power's rallying cry was "Darfur, Darfur, Darfur...." She
urged students to get involved and put pressure on the government to
deal with Darfur, warning that if we do not intercede today, in ten
years "Hotel Darfur" will replace the recent movie Hotel Rwanda.
The lecture was the second speech in the lecture series on human
rights planned by the Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf Scholar-in-Residence
Program in conjunction with the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Center for
International Affairs.