Transcript Dr. Conway`s conference presentation on Heroism

The Banality of Courage:
Stories of ordinary people
who risked their lives to
save others in the midst of
evil
Stories of rescue in the midst of genocide in Rwanda
Hypothesis: Negative stereotypes that
portray outsider groups as evil or subversive are part of the explanation of
how genocidal events happen. Stories that undermine negative stereotypes of
groups previously blamed for genocide promote reconciliation
Research on rescuers after the
Holocaust
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Stories of heroic rescuers such as Schindler,
Wallenberg, Sugihara . . .
The documentation of “righteous gentiles” at the
Yad Vashem memorial museum in Jerusalem.
Pearl and Samuel Oliner, The Altruistic
Personality: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi
Europe. (Perpetrators, bystanders, and rescuers interviewed)
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Collections by Martin Gilbert and Robert Satloff
Genocide and mass violence in the
20th century
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Namibia, Turkey, the HOLOCAUST, Cambodia,
Bosnia, Rwanda and elsewhere.
The aftermath of catastrophic violence: Coping
with denial, confronting evidence, seeking truth
and justice
Why gather rescue stories?
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In the aftermath of mass violence and genocide
RECONCILIATION is possible.
Reconciliation is a nebulous concept but scholars
assume that many variables are involved.
Governmental institutions, justice proceedings,
education, and mass media policies are the most
significant variables.
Stories of courageous rescuers that undermine
negative stereotypes can contribute to
reconciliation
RWANDA 1994
Genocide started after attack on President’s plane
Hutu’s wage genocide against Tutsi minority
Military and interahamwe forces deployed
Roughly 800,000 murdered in 3 months
Today: The Tutsi minority is generally in control of the
government. There is a somewhat tenuous peace.
Gacaca trials are ongoing in villages and towns
2008 population
10 million
Ethnic categories are
approximately
Hutu 84 %
Tutsis 15 %
Twa
1%
Epimaque Munyiragwe
Nyamata
Odette Umulisa
Kibuye
Innocent Ndamyimana Gisanura and Gitabita Nyantantaba
Kibuye
Hadj Bazirake Jumaine
Gisenye
Boys greeting car
Gihara
Christine Mutimura
Mwitakuze Felicita
Gihara
Courageous individuals such as the rescuers can
be us
(or perhaps our children)
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What characteristics did most of the rescuers have in common
(compared to bystanders)?
a sense of personal efficacy
a sense that people in the other group were no less worthy
a fear that not responding in a moral way would cause them
to feel guilt or shame
Most seemed to have an ethical framework of care,
empathy, generosity.
a religious or extended moral sense of obligation to outsiders (15% “religious”)
- a sense that all people deserve respect
justice and fairness perceived in global terms
(Oliners, 1983)
Heroism is a quest, involving risk, persisting over time or a sudden, one time action.
Defying authority to right a wrong, correct injustice or change a corrupt system
(Zimbardo. 2007)
Thou shalt not be a victim
Thou shalt not be a perpetrator
Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander
A better title, perhaps -
“The Banality of Courage”
Acknowledgements:
Research Grants Office
Provosts Fund
UUP
Nejra Nuna Cengic
Stephen Gatsinzi
Edmond Murenzi
Jim Greenberg, Alan Caswell,
Deb McClenon
ODK
Gladys