How to Prevent Genocide?

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"I am tempted to give you three important examples of things that should exist in a society for genocide to be prevented. Religious morality is one. But Rwanda was a religious society. It was 90% Catholic and then 10% Muslim and yet, this is a society that within hundred days eliminated between 800,000 and one million people.

I could say democracy should probably be another element. But Rwanda was a democratic society to the extent that there was free press, and people had the opportunity to express themselves without hindrance. It was that democratic value that existed in Rwandan society that allowed newspapers and radio stations the freedom to spread hate speech.

So the only thing that I am left with in answer to your question, is that democracy does not cut it. Religious morality does not cut it. Free press does not cut it. All three even facilitate genocide." - Kissi

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