@Dave Allen,
Dave Allen;156087 wrote:Not sure if it's what Ken meant - but there's not one Tasmanian Aboriginal left in a pure blood sense, and that's the only complete genocide I think history has recorded (modern history, anyway).
Yea, that's what I"m guessing though I'm sure he'll answer if he feels the urge.
But where that's the case, I'm not sure for genocide to happen
all elements of the victim classification must be gone. Now, if I were to see "was a genocidal
completed", to me, is distinctly different than saying, "Genocide was perpetrated against <yada>". A number of definitions (including the one adopted by the U.N. general assembly) include the attempt to destroy "in whole or in part". The action speaks to the motive and intent so much more than
was it complete and absolute in its success.
If, for example, I look at the millions destroyed in the Americas by disease, slavery and murder in the late 16th/early 17th centuries, that's likely to qualify (as well as the actions taken pursuant to various policies by a number of states , as well as the Gov't, in the 18th and 19th centuries which explicitly encouraged the wiping out of the natives as a race). It wasn't complete, but I'd certainly call it "genocidal" because it fits the goal of extinguishing a race of people because of who or what they are (or are perceived to be).
It's an emotionally-loaded term that is much tossed about to inflame; which I suppose is inevitable. Even so, we probably ought to be clear on how its being defined in any exchange.
Thanks