[Milly]

Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing
Two different terms for the same side of the coin

by Nicolas Kess in 2193AC

If one were to be asked whether or not Genocide is bad, the natural answer is to say 'of course'. Similarly, if one were to ask if ethnic cleansing is bad, the answer would be the same. Most of those who live in Meranthe are not accustomed to the chaos and confusion that come from an act of Genocide, of those who lose not just a home but their culture, family, neighbors, and land.

Thankfully, for those who are unaware, this author is a particularly specialized expert in the act of Genocide: I've lived through it. I grew up in Drakanspire.

I naturally stand against acts of Genocide, ethnic cleansing, or whatever you want to label it. It does not matter if a group in particular marched against your land and kidnapped your duchess - this author has previously spoken on the believed death of the Duchess of Nereides, and we here at the Quill & Chronicle are happy to report she is back home safe and sound. Yet this kidnapping should not be grounds for an ethnic cleansing of Giant culture, or of religious idols and relics that have stood the test of time and faith, no matter this author's belief against organized religion.

What does the Elzara of Delphina do now with the displaced magi and non-magi, the children who are now orphans, and those who seek revenge? Is the peerless Commander of the Elzara, Yesyra Florain, willing to bring into her noble household those orphans from Enos and provide them with the basics for survival? Will the royal household of Caewynn personally offer aid and assistance to those magi and non-magi who have had their homes destroyed and their relics of belief desecrated? This author believes the resounding answer is: no. Otherwise, what is the point of them destroying such culture to begin with?

Yet Delphina has effectively and ironically shot itself in the foot with this act, should they themselves not act to temper what they have done. An entire generation of youth will grow up hateful and vengeance-filled, more willing to contribute blind acts of hostility against their people in response to what had happened to them, when they had nothing to do with Gwenevere's assault on Nereides. There are the rare few that do not view these things with revenge in mind, this author knows quite well, but the most accomplished in mind and standing understand the underlying trauma that comes from surviving such acts.

It's not something that you simply move on from. It's not something you brush off.

And even if you say to yourself: I'm fine. This did not bother me. I will keep living...? That's a lie you tell yourself to do just that: try and move on. Yet no matter how one tries and tries, pushes and pushes, it quickly becomes apparent how impossible it is to truly move forward without accepting that what one lived through is a terrible, monstrous act.

It does not matter how Giant history has spanned across the centuries. This author has written extensively on the oppressive regime Jokul Folhammar has forced across the denizens of Meranthe in his conquest of the land within a scant one thousand days. Will you ignore that those before him ensured the destruction of Barsburg, a hellhole bent on 'progress over mortality' no matter what? Will you ignore that those before him sought Ymir's blessing and fought against Grimnir's domination of their people?

Much like how there could be those of every race, every culture that are both good and bad, so too do you find it within the Giant kind.
Has this author, himself, found a decent Giant with whom he could trust?

Unfortunately, no. The singular Giant I did trust broke into my home and assaulted me, trying to kill me.

But that does not mean they do not exist, or do not strive to exist.

Just because a person or a handful of a particular race marches into your home and kicks down your door does not give you a blank check to wipe out their entire culture.

It is this author's hope and desire that the governments of Meranthe, un-united as they are, speak out against this travesty, so we can stop seeing so many displaced by wars they had no hand in or responsibility for.

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