Boy scout Quote by Philip Gourevitch
![“If, in the face of genocide, governments fear placing soldiers at risk, he [UN General Romeo Dallaire] said, "then don't send soldiers, send Boy Scouts" - which is basically what the world did in the refugee camps. Dallaire was in uniform when he faced the camera; his graying hair was closely…” quote by Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c79/philip-gourevitch-17484_boy-scout_if-in-the-face-of-genocide-governments-f_2577034.jpg)
““If, in the face of genocide, governments fear placing soldiers at risk, he [UN General Romeo Dallaire] said, "then don't send soldiers, send Boy Scouts" - which is basically what the world did in the refugee camps. Dallaire was in uniform when he faced the camera; his graying hair was closely cropped; he held his square jaw firmly outthrust; his chest was dappled with decorations. But he spoke with some agitation, and his carefully measured phrases did nothing to mask his sense of injury or his fury.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, 1999
When governments avoid risking soldiers in genocide, they replace them with civilians, highlighting moral failure and the cost of inaction.
In simple terms: Avoiding soldier risk leads to civilian suffering.
Key Takeaway
Demand responsible action over empty gestures.
Themes
genocide
government responsibility
military ethics
Mood
critical
urgent
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- humanitarian missions
- refugee aid training
Key Concepts
political theory
human rights
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What ethical duties do governments have in crises?
- How can societies prevent the use of civilians as substitutes?
A Different Perspective
Civilian involvement may not substitute professional protection.
![“Just as a state's police swear to prevent and punish murder, so the signers of the Genocide Convention [in 1948] swore to police a brave new world order. The rhetoric of moral utopia is a peculiar response to genocide. But those were heady days, just after the trials at Nuremberg, when the full…” quote by Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/41e/philip-gourevitch-17484_brave-new-world_just-as-a-state-s-police-swear-to-preven_403389.jpg)
