I read about genocides in a history class, and I wondered how many times they had occurred through out history-all ‘possible’ genocides that have occurred during history. The reason why I use ‘possible’ is that scholars all over the world are arguing over what events were and were not true genocide. They argue about the time-period, about the victims and the perpetrators, about the methods used and the list goes on and on. The word derives from two roots: genos is Greek for family or tribe and cide is Latin for massacre. The definition of genocide is stated as the “intent to destroy, in whole of part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group by killing, condition/acts to cause death, physical harm, preventative birth and the transferring of children”.
During my research, I found two incidents in history that borderlined the 'true' definition. The Ukrainian Genocide took place in the
Soviet Union during the years 1932 to 1934. This was during the communist era, and the first time an entire country would be subject to communal control. Quotas were often set for certain food items: in this way, the people would produce a certain number and it would be redistributed throughout the country. Joseph Stalin imposed a grain quota in 1932 on a specific group of people-the
Ukraines. This quota was impossible to reach and as a result of the quota not being met, starvation and military rule set in. The military guarded food towers, and enforced the laws that outlawed traveling. The famine was a clear result of deliberate political and administrative decisions. The causalities numbered from 10 to 15 million. The uniqueness of this event-in my opinion- was that Stalin openly admitted to the fatal purpose of the quota.
The second incident was The Great Leap Forward (1959-1962). This event does not necessarily follow the general definition of genocide, but it has a significant comparability. Mao Tse-Tung led the People’s Republic of China through a Collective Farm Policy modeled after Stalin’s communist
Soviet Union. Mao put grain and steel productive on first priority, however, his emphasis on steel was fabricated. The steel they produced was worthless, and the production took away from agriculture production. Local officials under pressure exaggerated results of the harvest and this affected distribution. The results caused a devastating widespread famine. The Great Leap Forward took 20 to 30 million lives. The uniqueness of this event is that even though it cannot be classified as genocide, Tse-Tung would have been rationally justified if he had killed these people under direct orders.
I know that this is a bit out of character for me to write about, but I am curious as to what everyone else thinks. Should these incidents be included in the history of genocides?
In fact, if we leave the word genocide out completely, it is obvious that the same issues are present today. Should irrational political policies that result in the deaths of millions be considered a form of negligence? I could go as far to say that governments make the same decisions when they decide to engage in pointless war (many felt this way during the Vietnam War) or even if businesses distribute harmful products to consumers. . .
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
First off, Cide comes from the Latin suffix -cida meaning 'one who cuts.'
Second, I definitely consider the Ukraine famine a genocide.
Third, I wouldn't consider the Great Leap Forward a genocide. The issue in the Great Leap Forward was that Mao (Tse-Tung is his given name, Mao is his surname) didn't know what to expect for revenue, and since he was the dictator, and what he said had to be true, the people had to 'produce' the numbers that he mandated. When the people 'met' these numbers, he would raise them. This wasn't an issue of intent to kill, but instead of ignorance of production.
--Mike
nice posting