This semester I have sat through a few events relating to genocide, abuse against women, rape utilized as a weapon, conflict minerals and means of survival. All of which was approached in a humorous manner.
At first I thought how can someone write a monologue about their vagina being tortured and laugh about it? I especially couldn’t fathom an Auschwitz survivor cracking jokes about his wife and the years of pain he had to endure.
I guess the key to truly moving on and actually living is to exercise humor as a means of coping. Maintaining a sense of humor about the past, present and future allows us to continue living in a seemingly harsh and corrupt world.
Within all these crimes against humanity, awareness is steadily being spread.
The idea of collective mass graves still haunts me. Having come to a reality with a lack of humanity and placing myself into the temporary mindset of lost loved ones is heartbreaking.
Carl Wilkens, former head of Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in Rwanda, states that “surviving is more than just staying alive; surviving is learning how to live again.”
Wilkens expresses his perspective on society because he believes “our commonalities are so much greater than our differences.”
This modern day hero is often overlooked by the uninformed and unappreciative.
He was the only American to stay behind in Rwanda when others immediately fled at the entrance of crisis.
Wilkens’ story presents us with a reminder of moral choices interacting with history and forces us to re-evaluate our every day relationships.
Even through the horrendous pains of facing unimaginable slaughter, he was still able to muster up the courage to tell his story, to detail each encounter.
Each description, each scene out of his life, is not completely full of blood, sweat and tears.
No, Wilkens puts forth a fun and witty portrayal of his life overseas. He enjoys talking about the friends he made, the strong-willed neighbors and the witty children.
Having to witness destruction on such a massive level, many would assume him to be mentally insane from post trauma. But, his means of coping comes within a sense of humor that no one can take away.
Unfortunately, the Holocaust among other acts of violence is a myth to the ignorant.
Modern day ignorance still survives and the mere existence of genocide is denied. But of course, regardless of the proof, the stories, the people and those “fashionable tattoos,” the Holocaust is apparently a myth.
The Holocaust is a story worth telling. It is not like all the survivors got together to fabricate such an elaborate story.
Phil Gans, a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz, was a firsthand witness to cruelty on a whole other unfathomable level. His advice is to not hate and to educate oneself with the power of stories. As a victim, he believed in never losing hope and maintaining hope.
Nowadays, genocide is a series of myths to the ignorant and it expresses “what it really means to be human,” according to Gans.
Gans is a promoter of breaking barriers and acceptance through tolerance because even though he had to suffer, he still cherishes his existence.
The problem of society is the continuation of man’s fight against man and the process of making enemies out of each other.
Like history reveals, bullying is the initial step towards brainwashing, power hungry, murderous thoughts.
The concept of “hate” gives way to inhumane train of thoughts because the world being a better place without someone is petrifying. Elimination via hatred is a bias way to lead.
Like Wilkens was trying to convey, it is okay to laugh because you don’t always have to be serious. This constructive notion of “us” and “them” handicaps the need for progression and the concept of “the other” presents unintentional prejudice and segregation.
Basically, the act of educating and informing can come is various manners. A line between the stereotypical good and evil prevents the uninformed from seeing beneath the surface.
Dehumanizing and creating a false sense of security makes way for genocide, crimes against humanity.
I’m sensing a pattern of destruction that refuses to take a break. Too often history repeats, but throughout this ongoing fight, it is best to keep our heads up and smile.
Wilkens is a strong believer and asserts that hope within pain and defiance still holds strong and allows humanity to “re-humanize” through hope and healthy optimism.
Narisa Imprasert can be reached at nimprasert@ut.edu
