Genocide Centre - Reflections

The death of 'the innocents'
Thousands, nay millions, tortured,
killed, murdered in cold blood,
with music blaring to drown the
cries of anguish and pain…
Music, that refreshes, that lift's one's heart
was now celebrating the inhuman
and heinous crimes
Perpetrated by one perverted
man and his mindless followers…

The trees and the land remain
mute witnesses
To the innocent children whose tender heads
were smashed against trees and hurled
into pits, -
The women, young and old, abused,
tortured, killed -
and thrown into pits like mounting garbage -
The men, tortured, their agonized
screams frozen on their skulls,

Mass graves as through there was a
natural calamity, a plague…
Yes, but the plague was in the heart
and mind of one person
and the calamity was the destruction of
justice, peace and prosperity.

This was not in the hoary, hazy past,
But in the present, when you and I and
the world enjoyed the Gifts of God -
The gifts of freedom, laughter and peace.

This could be the story of Bosnia, Croatia,
Serbia, Herzegovina.
It could be the story of Ireland, Rwanda, Sudan,
of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran
of Sri Lanka, East Timor, Nepal…
Who knows, it could be the story of
you and me and the countries
We live in!

For each cry of anguish, we will be
asked by God
"Where were you, when the blood of
your brothers and sisters cried out to
me in pain?"

It is time to think, to reflect, to change.
For this is the moment of Truth…

Susan Jacob - May 7, 2006

Susan wrote this reflection as a response to her visit to the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.