Variazione

Anne, John, Luke, Marc, Mathew
We see the same persons again several weeks after the terrible events. Their common struggle has brought them together even more. From now on they constitute the fingers of the same hand not ceasing writing history so that the essential is not forgotten. Each one of them sits in front of a table illuminated by a candle. The space gives the sense of a hidden library. One of the persons lifts his head.

Luke

Before starting rewriting the last century’s history, I hadn’t realized…

Anne

What hadn’t you realized?
Luke

The importance of the idea of genocide.
John

It’s not your fault! Time. Even the French language hadn’t discovered this word not earlier than 1944, as if it hadn’t existed before.

Mathew

Still, much earlier than 1944, the century was wounded by genocide.
Marc

But, who remembers 1915?

Luke

I also think that there was a notion even worse than the one of genocide…Silence

John

How is this possible?

Anne

Oblivion? 

Luke

Yes, oblivion, but not only…

Mathew
Recognition…Time. Or rather non recognition.
Luke

Yes, that’s the idea. Non recognition of genocide is worse than genocide itself!
John

I don’t understand the reasoning of yours.
Luke

In the phrase “methodical disaster” characterizing genocide, the word methodical is the worst one.

Mathew

Now I get what Luke means. Time. Justice itself makes a distinction between passionate crimes and the premeditated ones.
Luke

What differentiates the two, is precisely the method. And non recognition is the continuation of this method.

John

Through the negation of memory, they murder the dead.

Anne
Having tortured them is not enough for them; they also want them to die in oblivion.
Mathew

Historical facts may explain the appearance of genocide, but it is only immorality which may characterize the non recognition

John

Genocide is a wound for Humanity, whereas the non recognition is the alienation of the human.
Luke

Certain people don’t take a position, because they were not present when the events took place; without taking into account, however, that their neutrality does not serve anyone but the executioners.
Mathew

In genocide I see barbarity; while it is in the non recognition where its horror rests.
Anne

In recognition, there are much more beyond the duty of memory. There is the resurrection of a people.

Marc

I agree with these thoughts, but we must turn them into actions.

John

That’s why we are writing history.

Luke

However, we also ought to write the history of the future. Time. If we want genocides to belong to the past, we must deal with their recognition.
Marc

Our enemies are not the executioners who are dead; but those continuing their work through the non recognition.

Mathew

And how to convince the one who does not know!

Luke

To win with him, we must be born with him.

John

For some, writing the declaration on human rights has no meaning, even though it is necessary.
Anne
Through genocide, the struggle aims to Humanity.

Luke

Humanity has also the right to exist.

Marc

As every free man.

Mathew

We must struggle against any country, any system oppressing human rights and does not recognize cases of genocide.
John

We must struggle above all against the countries which have committed genocides and do not recognize them, because they constitute examples of cowardice.
Mathew

Except that we have to be prudent.

Anne

How do you dare talking about prudency when this has to do with genocide?
Mathew

It’s not what I meant. I was just thinking of you both, you and John.

Anne

It’s not us the ones that you must think of, but the others who couldn’t defend themselves, the others who died because they existed, the others who are not alive but in our memory.
John

This is the only that we have to think about.
Marc

I know a lady who has survived genocide and could help us.

Mathew

We have to meet her as soon as possible.
Marc

Then we must go and see her at her home. She can’t move anymore. Torture has detained her on her chair.

Anne

We need her. Let’s go!

They blow out their candles and leave.