Parents have been reprimanding their children for “not behaving normally,” whatever that may mean, since the beginning of time 300,000 years ago. My parents certainly did, often. Whilst what’s normal has shifted throughout the ages, there’s a real danger in the process of normalization today. Many societies have normalized derogatory language perpetuating stereotypes related to race, religion, immigration status and sexual preference, just to mention a few. This explosive behaviour goes beyond high-profile conflicts and issues around the world. It’s often cultivated in our homes, schools and religious buildings.
Normalization is clearly evident in Israel’s brutal military campaign in Gaza. Helped by certain media outlets, images of babies, children and the elderly being bombed, are purposely dehumanized, their stories of perseverance, survival, exclusion and mistreatment, silenced. It actually reminds me of a poem by Rafaat Alareer: If I Must Die, calling attention to the stories of many Palestinians as well as others around the world who suffer from injustice. In his poem he implores: “If I must die, you must live to tell my story. [..]. If I must die, let it bring hope, let it be a tale.”
South Africa has recently filed a genocide case against Israel based on the Genocide Convention, the first human rights treaty adopted by the UN. Interestingly, this convention, rightfully, came about after the Holocaust, the deliberate murder of among others 6 million European Jews. More that 100 groups worldwide and countries, including Malaysia, Jordan and Indonesia are supporting this case.
The world has bravely shown, after the Second World War, not to remain silent when injustice occurs, even when it occurs far away. In November 2019, The Gambia, joined by Canada, Denmark, Germany, Britain and the Netherlands filed a genocide case against Myanmar for its actions aimed at exterminating the Rohingya people. It’s encouraging that South Africa this time has sounded the alarm. Injustice anywhere cannot be normalized.
Rafaat Alareer was tragically assassinated by the Israeli army, along with some of his family members, precisely a month ago in an apparent deliberate attack according to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. Rafaat Alaleer’s plight must not be forgotten.
Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has a MBA from the University of Iowa. (USA).
