Boy George has it right in genocide debate | Letter
Maine Writers Debate the Use of “Genocide” to Describe Israel’s Gaza Campaign
A letter to the editor in the Press Herald has reignited a long‑standing discussion in Maine over whether the term “genocide” can be legitimately applied to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The letter, signed by Erwin Rupert of Scarborough, argues that the word’s original legal meaning—adopted by the United Nations in its 1948 Convention on Genocide—does not encompass the civilian deaths that have occurred in the Gaza Strip.
Rupert opens by pointing out that the term “genocide” did not exist before World War II, and was codified by the United Nations in 1948. He cites the convention’s definition: “Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” The letter then lists the first act—killing members of the group—as the core of the definition.
In his critique, Rupert asks whether every act of war could be classified as genocide, citing the United States’ bombing of Hiroshima and the United Kingdom’s firebombing of Berlin as examples. He argues that the original intent of the term applied only to deliberate, noncombatant killings that occurred outside the context of military operations, and therefore does not include civilian casualties that are part of a broader war strategy.
The letter also references the recent release of Boy George’s new single, “We Will Dance Again,” whose opening line—“You say genocide, I say war”—echoes Rupert’s stance. While the pop star’s remarks are artistic rather than legal, Rupert uses the line to underscore the broader cultural debate over the word.
The debate in Maine reflects a broader national conversation. Some local rabbis have expressed the view that labeling Israel’s Gaza operations as genocide is an overstatement and an improper use of the term. Conversely, many readers of the Press Herald have taken the position that the term is a precise legal distinction and that a “Gaza genocide” is indeed occurring.
Rupert concludes that the term’s original meaning has been diluted over time, and that using it to describe modern urban warfare—such as the situation in Gaza where civilians are often caught in the crossfire—misrepresents the legal framework established by the 1948 Convention. He ends by echoing Boy George’s sentiment: “You say genocide, I say war.”
The letter has prompted a flurry of responses in the comments section of the Press Herald and has been cited in other Maine publications as part of an ongoing conversation about language, law, and the ethics of reporting on conflict.
