Evangeline Lilly Instagram – I have been working in Rwanda for twenty-years now and no matter how many times I read about the horrific massacre that took place there in 1994, I am unable to be unaffected by this story of division and hatred. If ever there were a lesson for all of the world about being stronger, mentally and emotionally, than to succumb to propagandist ideas that vilify and dehumanize another group of humans, this is one of them. Civil war and genocide does not begin with violence, it begins with ideas and ideologies. It begins with believing the lie of “the other”.
All over the world we are collectively succumbing to this dividing rhetoric, choosing to believe that we are truly locked in an existential battle with our fellow man, with our neighbour, even with our own family members and friends.
Now is the time for us all to read the first hand accounts of genocide survivors and civil war refugees. Especially us in the West who have had the privilege of peace for so long. Let us not, in our privilege and ignorance be the next perpetrators of atrocity. Let us not be blindly lead into our own goodnight.
Please, when you read this caption, don’t think of someone else who you can point the finger at for participating in this behaviour but only check yourself, and check yourself DEEPLY and INTIMATELY; have no mercy, don’t make excuses, check to see if you aren’t starting to think of another group of humans as less deserving of life and rights than you are. 🙏🏼 Now is not the time for casting stones but checking ourselves for blame, doing the hard, hard work of untangling from the addictive and captivating rhetoric and stepping into the necessary grace of discussion, olive branches and hope. | Posted on 17/Jul/2024 10:32:38
