大象传媒

Good morning.

Tomorrow, July 11th, is Srebrenica Remembrance Day. Twenty years ago, over 8,000 Bosnjaks (men and boys of Muslim faith) were slaughtered. Srebrenica had been designated a 鈥渟afe area鈥� by the United Nations. Yet it was here that an act of genocide, with mass rape and total confusion, was perpetrated. This was a flagrant crime against humanity and a reproach on the conscience of us all, a wake-up call; but, alas, we have seen too many similar atrocities occurring with great regularity in the intervening years.

Not long ago, I visited Srebrenica, saw the vast and brand new cemetery where the victims of that massacre lie buried, and met some of the survivors 鈥� widows, children, friends. Tears continue to flow copiously.

There are passages in the New Testament that seem to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. The description of the ruin of the city and the suffering of the people matches the events that took place in Srebrenica. It was, says the writer, as if the sun had been darkened and the moon and stars robbed of their light and heaven itself shaken to its core. And the advice given? Keep awake. These things happen when our guard drops. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Only then will good overcome evil.

As we wake up this morning, I鈥檓 sure we鈥檇 like to have heard a cheerful word to get us on our way. Quite right. But not at the expense of remembering those who suffered on that fateful day.

Dear Lord, we pray for the people of Srebrenica and the population of Bosnia and for ourselves. Make us strong in the face of wickedness and hasten the day when love will conquer hatred in our troubled world. Amen.