https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/02/13/genocide-is-the...
It's the correct word if Canada is to apply the definition on others that it applies upon itself.
Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
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Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#22I am not sure what term is apporopiate for the horrific treatment, but I found the Economist's point quite valid. > By the common understanding of the word, it is not. Just as “homicide” means killing a person and “suicide” means killing yourself, “genocide” means killing a people. China’s persecution of the Uyghurs is horrific: it has locked up perhaps 1m of them in prison camps, which it naturally mislabels “vocati…
I don't think there is any strict consensus that genocide is only about slaughtering people as in murder/killing. Sterilisation and making their living conditions worse than others in order to kill their culture and ethnicity can also be considered genocide, as the ultimate goal is to erase them. In this case it just happens slowly in training centers, work camps and prisons.
In the larger picture I agree with you however. If you give someone that label there is only one stance that would be acceptable and it would have to be a strong one, otherwise you are diminishing the importance of the word.
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#23Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#24There is a big danger in labeling it genocide: what are you going to do about it?
If you label it genocide, and continue doing business as usual apart from some strongly worded letters, you are in effect saying that "genocide" is not a big deal.
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#25[deleted]
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#26what happens next? Wouldn't this now imply canadians are now open to doing business with genocidal govt?
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#27I am not sure what term is apporopiate for the horrific treatment, but I found the Economist's point quite valid. > By the common understanding of the word, it is not. Just as “homicide” means killing a person and “suicide” means killing yourself, “genocide” means killing a people. China’s persecution of the Uyghurs is horrific: it has locked up perhaps 1m of them in prison camps, which it naturally mislabels “vocati…
That's not valid; genocide is not simply death camps, it can be the purposeful and systematic erasure of a culture.
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#28I am not sure what term is apporopiate for the horrific treatment, but I found the Economist's point quite valid. > By the common understanding of the word, it is not. Just as “homicide” means killing a person and “suicide” means killing yourself, “genocide” means killing a people. China’s persecution of the Uyghurs is horrific: it has locked up perhaps 1m of them in prison camps, which it naturally mislabels “vocati…
> It has forcibly sterilised some Uyghur women.
I think the Economist is being pedantic. The above, applied broadly, would "kill a people" within one generation.
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#29Interesting that the parliament went ahead with a vote, from which the 'leadership' (cabinet) abstained; I wonder what's going on behind the scenes. >"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and almost all of his cabinet colleagues were absent for the vote. Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau was the only cabinet minister present. When it was his turn, he said he abstained "on behalf of the Government of Canada." "
I'm a huge Liberal supporter, but am disappointed by Trudeau's decision on this. I never thought I'd say this, but good for the Tories. The most generous interpretation I've heard is that Trudeau's government is currently engaged in highly sensitive talks with China regarding captured Canadians and couldn't afford to take a stance on this.
Canada is part of the core UN group about to present a resolution in the UNHCR on human rights violations in Sri Lanka soon and I hope the government shows more spine.
Re: Canada's parliament votes to label China's persecution of Uighurs as genocide
#30I am not sure what term is apporopiate for the horrific treatment, but I found the Economist's point quite valid. > By the common understanding of the word, it is not. Just as “homicide” means killing a person and “suicide” means killing yourself, “genocide” means killing a people. China’s persecution of the Uyghurs is horrific: it has locked up perhaps 1m of them in prison camps, which it naturally mislabels “vocati…
Here's the article: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/02/13/genocide-is-the...