Genocide involves the mass killing of certain ethics, race or group of individuals. The motive of mass killing may be due to political difference, religious difference, culture difference and mistrust among different group. Increase in frequencies of the genocide has made historian explore on the main causes of the genocide. Their researches are aimed to prevent cases of genocide. Jan Gross, the writer of the book Neighbors has done extensive analysis of what led to the Jewish genocide. The book exposes the perpetrator of the Jewish genocide. A contrast to the historical believes that the genocide was facilitated by the Nazi; it shows the genocide was facilitated by the Jewish neighbor, Poland.
According to Gross, the massacre took place in a small town Jedwabne near Poland. The genocide started on July 10th 1941. The mayor of the city had a meeting with Germany where they agreed to kill all the Jews in the Jedwabne city. The Jews were murdered in cold blood by the local police using axes and clubs. They were frog matched in the city and ordered to sing. The new born babies were not spared either; they were murdered as their mothers watched. Some Jews tried to defense themselves, but they were unable. Those who tried to escape were brutally murdered. The Jews were finally burned alive by their Poland neighbor. To ensure no one escape, the town was surrounded by the guards. The old and sick who were at homes were also brought and burnt to death .
The motive for the killing of the Jews of Poland was based on the religious difference. Though Poland was backed up by the Germans, they had had historical hatred toward Jews religion. There was also competition among Jews and Poland craftsmen. This may also have motivated the killing. During the meeting in Jedwabne, Germany wanted to retain some Jews craftsmen but Poland wanted all Jews to be killed.
No war should be morally justified. War destroys human interactions. Human relationship is broken down. During war people kill each other leading to mass death. Properties and wealth of the nation are also destroyed during the war. It takes time to reconstruct a country which has had war. The effects of war are depressing. It creates fear and depression among people. Human morality is changed negatively after the war. People develop mistrust against ethnicity, racial, and difference group due to war. This book, neighbor depicts how Poland nation feels guilty for the mass killing of the Jews.
According to Gross, what led to controversies as its revelation of the Jews genocide was a contrast to a historical belief. Historically people believed that the Jews genocide was facilitated by the Nazi, but then it is revealed that the genocide was facilitated by the Poland. The author claimed that he personally interviewed some Jewish who witness the genocide. Most of them claimed that the murder was facilitated by the Poland nation. The Jews history, which is passed on from one generation to another also, claims that Poland was the perpetrator of the genocide. The author claims that the historical document which blame Nazi as the perpetrator was written by the Poland. This raises a question on the credibility of the documents. The findings of this book depict that the perpetrator of the genocide was Poland. This has led to controversies of this book in the Poland nation. Though the book has had a lot of critics in Poland, some Poles acknowledge it. Some of the Poles are planning to seek forgiveness from the Jews. This depicts an element of truth in the revelation of the Gross’s book. The book enables the reader to get a clear picture of the brutal murder that was facilitated by the Poland. The readers also learn the negative effects that are associated with genocide.
Cases of genocide can be prevented from occurring. Most of the genocides are caused by bad leadership. Some of the leaders may incite people against each other. With support from leaders, people are mobilized and engage in war. This war may lead to genocide. People should elect a good leader who focuses on national development. As a result, cases of genocide will be reduced. Inequality in the distribution of national resources may create mistrust against different racial or ethnic group. Government should enhance equal distribution of resources. This will prevent people from engaging in war. The government should also provide a conflict solving mechanism. This will ensure conflicts between conflicting parties are solved amicably. By embracing the strategies given above chances of eruption genocide will be reduced to a minimum level.
There is much genocide that has taken place in the world. Among them include the Armenian genocide and Rwandan genocide .Rwanda which is in Africa experienced genocide in 1994. It is estimated that more than 500,000 people of Tutsis ethnicity were killed. The murders were perpetrated by the Hutus ethnicity. The war was caused by ethnicity differences between Tutsis and Hutu. In reference to discussion, it is clear that genocide leads to mass killing and human suffering. The government and leaders should create measures that will prevent the occurrence of genocide.
Work cited
Jones, Adam. Genocide : a comprehensive introduction. London: Routledge, 2006.
Tomasz, Jan Gross. Neighbors : the destruction of the Jewish community in Jedwabne, Poland. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001.
