Srebrenica Remembered, Srebrenica Denied

Srebrenica 10 Years Later

Srebrenica's Sombre Ceremony

In Pictures: Srebrenica Anniversary

Bosnia Remembers Massacre

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the massacre of about 7,800 Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica near the conclusion of the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. I think it's rather telling that most people would scoff if we called on all Christians to apologize for the crimes against humanity carried out by Orthodox Christian Serbs -- who were well-known for sporting a three-fingered "Trinitarian" salute during their anti-Muslim rampages. However, many of these same scoffers, based on what I've heard, seen and read on the news that past view days, seemingly believe that all Muslims should apologize for the recent attrocities in London. Condemn? Yes. Apologize? No. There's quite a difference between the two and I pity those who don't (or can't) see the distinction. Quite simply, we condemn everything that is immoral and un-Islamic, but only apologize for acts that we are complicit in.

If they're consistent in their thinking, then we should all be waiting for Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Ann Coulter, William F. Buckley, Jr. et al to apologize for the mass killings at Srebrenica, the genocide in Rwanda, the Sabra and Shatilla massacres in Lebanon, the fire bombing of Dresden and other crimes carried out by Christians...and may God save us all from double-standards. Indeed, if religions were proven false by the barbarous and idiotic actions of a few of their fanatical followers, then Christianity would have disappeared a long time ago.

One should also realize that while a world-wide "War on Terror" is being conducted in order to track down so-called "Islamic terrorists", the well-known perpetrators of much graver crimes against humanity during the Bosnian War remain at large and continue to enjoy impunity. While I support tracking down and bringing to justice all terrorists, which is not to be confused with the foreign policy agenda that actually hides behind the "War on Terror" façade, I think most people need to be aware of the rather inconsistent and selective way that terrorists are given priority. It seems that if you kill Americans, Britons or Israelis, you'll be on the top of the most wanted list in a big hurry, but if you massacre Muslims you'll enjoy near complete impunity for at least the foreseeable future. The truth of the matter is that that if they really wanted to wage a war on terror, they'd track down all those who purposely employ wanton violence against civilian populations, but since this would involve many of those in power, including some heads of state, don't hold your breath.

Another interesting aspect of all this, and one that I hope all Muslim conspiracy theorists will take to heart, is that most Serbs are still in deep denial over the crimes that Serb soldiers committed in Bosnia. For documentation of this, please check out the following links:

Serbs Divided Over Grim Video
A new opinion survey suggests one-third of Serbs believe that footage of atrocity is fake.
by Beth Kampschror - The Christian Science Monitor

Serbs' hero worship sours
A recent Serbian survey suggested only half the population believed the 1995 Srebrenica massacre by Serb forces of more than 7,500 Muslim men and boys had happened.
by Matt Prodger
BBC News, Belgrade - 11 July 2005

Yes indeed, they just dismiss all of the evidence that has been amassed by various investigators and human rights organizations -- and even some Serbs who personally participated in the massacres as well. As the articles above document, a "majority" of Serbs, who certainly seem brainwashed by their own ethnic myths, believe that "Serbs were the greatest victims of the Balkan wars of the 1990s" and that videos showing Serbs killing Muslims are "fake". When it comes to the crimes of the Zionist Israelis, there are also droves of people who are seemingly unaware that denial ain't just a river in Egypt as well. I present this in the hope that some Muslims out there will realize that myopic denial, conspiracy theories and crass tribalism run both ways. The important thing to recognize in all of this is that the explanation lies not so much in documenting the facts or in the injustices of power politics, but rather in sheep-like "group think", whiney victimization psychology and a puerile "my-tribe-is-always-right" mentality...and my Almighty God save us from all that.

Deen On...